Governance at the grassroots

DECENTRALISED PLANNING AND PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS: S. N. Mishra and others; Rs. 450.

GRASSROOT POLITICS IN INDIA: Sumita Mishra; Rs. 295. Both published by Mittal Publications, A-110, Mohan Garden, New Delhi- 110059.

TREMENDOUS CHANGES have been taking place in the transformation of rural India towards modernisation, since the passing of the Constitution (73rd) Amendment Act, 1992.

History of the local government in India remained mostly in statutes, reports and books from 1882 (Ripon) to 1992 (Rajiv Gandhi). Now they are no more a den of ``poverty, ignorance, inequality and exploitation.''

The character of rural India has changed or at least is fast changing and one of its functional features as an economic unit is becoming more pronounced and prominent. The Indian village and its governance are getting municipalised. The 1992 Constitutional Amendment confirms this and becomes a promoter of socio-economic change in India's rural government.

Much water has flowed under the bridge since 1992 and there has been a tremendous spurt of activities especially at the micro level on the politics and economics of the Panchayati Raj system.

Prof. S. N. Mishra and his associates, in the first book, have examined the nature of planning in Rajasthan through an intensive research study carried out in the districts of Alwar and Jodhpur. Mishra's incisive and systematic study of decentralised planning process in Rajasthan throws a mine of information on the status of planning at the district, block and gram panchayat levels, including a study of district planning cell, panchayat samithi, zillah parishad and the role of the pradhan. His articulation on integrated rural development (IRD) is a good piece of research.

Mr. Mishra, who has been doing excellent work in the area of Panchayati Raj for more than two decades, observes that ``much would depend on the way a state government used these instruments and the extent to which they are provided authority, responsibility and co-operation.''

The second book is a micro study on the nature and working of Panchayati Raj in India in general and in Bihar, in particular. The author quotes the scriptures of Ramashray Ray, Chetkar Jha, R. C. Prasad, Sachchidanand and S. N. Mishra to prove that ``the state level politics has always influenced the grassroots politics in Bihar.''. This is also true in many states of India and Bihar is no exception.

One has to agree with the author that until the mid-1960s, rural Bihar was the scene of abject poverty, unemployment and destitution on the one hand, affluence, power, upper caste landed aristocracy, supported by bureaucracy and political leadership on the other. This is now replaced by a new ruling class ably supported by mafia groups and gangs.

The grassroots government in Bihar is at a crossroads, and the author hopes that if the Panchayati Raj Act of Bihar is effectively implemented, i.e., if elections are held as per the law, Panchayati Raj politics will certainly provide Bihar with a good government, which could both rein and govern the people of the State.

We join the author in her wishes that the rural masses will rise and see that the future of Panchayati Raj institutions is bright, which could fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people in the years to come.

Both the books will be of use to students of the Panchayati Raj Administration in India.

C. A. PERUMAL

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