The Hindu : Attack on panchayati raj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

Attack on panchayati raj

A LITTLE OVER a decade after the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution were enacted, the dream of panchayati raj is turning sour. While in a few States — West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh are notable examples — elections have been held on schedule and funds have been transferred to the panchayats, in most the commitment to decentralisation has not lasted for more than a few years. Now attempts are being made to destroy the decentralisation process even where it was initiated on a major scale. The ongoing attack from various sides on the People's Plan Campaign of Kerala illustrates panchayati raj's struggle for survival. The criticism of the Kerala experiment could have been dismissed as absurd but for its viciousness. The People's Campaign is now being described, in paranoid style, as a plot of the Central Intelligence Agency to destabilise Kerala society. Considering that it was the Left Democratic Front Government, of which the CPI(M) was the main coalition partner, that launched the People's Campaign in 1996, this is farcical criticism.

Yet there are enough political forces in Kerala opposed to devolution of powers to local bodies that are ready to use any stick to beat panchayati raj with. The ruling United Democratic Front has always been less than enthusiastic about its support for the People's Campaign and is now less than forthcoming in its defence of decentralisation against the bizarre allegations. On another front, government rules have been drawn up to stifle activities taken up by the panchayats. For example, funds for 2002-03 were partially released only in the last week of the fiscal year and now the local bodies have been told to return any funds that remained unutilised in end June. The People's Campaign is also being undermined by attacks on well-known institutions that were involved in the process. The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad has for decades organised movements for the popularisation of science, literacy and local empowerment. But it now has to face the accusation of being part of a CIA-inspired plot to weaken Kerala. Another institution, the Centre for Development Studies, which achieved national and international recognition for its research that brought the "Kerala Model" of human development to the notice of the world, stands accused of being part of the same foreign plot; the so-called evidence is a research project on local level development funded by the Netherlands Government. In addition, a number of civil society organisations have been smeared with allegations of destabilising local society with their grassroot activities. It is unfortunate that the political discourse in Kerala has degenerated to the extent such arguments are being taken seriously.

There were and are problems with the People's Campaign in Kerala. Poor project selection, improper choice of beneficiaries, and under-utilisation of funds were not uncommon practices. But considering the scale of the transformation in governance that was being attempted, these shortcomings were no more than part of a learning process. They must not be exploited to do panchayati raj in. Perhaps the biggest irony is that earlier this month, even as a relentless attack was launched on the People's Campaign, decentralisation in the State received international notice in the 2003 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme. The Kerala experiment was praised for its involvement of citizens and for its contribution to equity.

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