Decision-makings process in local self-government: a case study of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra state

Abstract

India has experienced and enjoyed grass-roots republicanism for nearly eight hundred years between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD. According to the accepted modem definitions, a 'republic' is a form of government, which is non monarchical in spirit, with an elective or constitutional spirit of governance, delegation and devolution of authority and participation or popular sanction behind power and decision-making. Decentralization is the battle cry of modem democracies. Decentralization can be usefully understood as a political process whereby administrative authority, public resources and responsibilities are transferred from central government agencies to lower level organs of government or to non-governmental bodies, such as community-based organizations. (CBOs), 'third party' non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private sector actors. The Panchayat Raj institutions are not independent of the state and central authorities. In India we find devolution of powers, has become a major mean of achieving decentralization. The Local self-government is equipped with political, administrative and fiscal powers. This case study explores the decision making process in a local self-government in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra State. Studies in selected villages and blocks of the said district was carried out on various needs assessment, effectiveness, efficiency measurements by decision making process at the Gram Panchayat level and various financial administrative and fiscal powers effecting the decision making at Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samithi and Zilla Parishad level. During the study it was found that there are many internal and external factors, which influence the decision-making processes at all these levels. The organizational structure as well as availability of funds also influence the Decision Making Processes. During the Study, in the selected villages it was observed that, the Gram Panchayats had very little role in deciding their own needs, as the external factors and Organizational structure and the operating guidelines were coming in the way of functioning of Gram Panchayat independently. Decision making process was seen to be dynamic and changing from time to time.