Publications

  The erstwhile state of Punjab was historically bifurcated into three distinct states: Punjab, Haryana (1966), and Himachal Pradesh (1971). Since then, significant socio-economic changes have transformed this region. Over three decades ago, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) mandated that Panchayats be established and nourished as effective, self-governing institutions. Today, these three states are governed by three different major political parties (INC, AAP, and BJP). This provides a unique opportunity to compare their actual political will to empower rural local governments. Have these institutions truly become autonomous hubs of decentralized planning and development? Let us look at the grassroots evidence. Measuring the Health of Panchayats (2024 Study) To assess the reality of power devolution, we turn to the 2024 study, ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States’ , conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) for the Ministry of Panchayati ...

  It has been more than 30 years since the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1993 was enacted, designed to transform Panchayats into vibrant institutions of self-government. Ideally, these rural bodies should operate as autonomous entities with clearly defined functions, adequate funds, and sufficient functionaries. However, a closer assessment reveals a sobering reality: most Panchayats remain severely malnourished and lack the authority required to address grassroots issues. While states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu offer a silver lining, the overarching national picture of power devolution remains deeply flawed. Measuring the Health of Panchayats (2024 Study) To evaluate how well these institutions have been empowered, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (Government of India) commissioned the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in 2024 to study the Status of Devolution to Panchayats . The study measured the "health" of Panchayats using a Composite Devo...