The Reality of Panchayat Devolution: A Tale of Three States (Punjab, Haryana & Himachal Pradesh)
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 ...