Handbook of Decentralised Governance and Development in India

Book excerpt: This handbook examines twenty-five years of decentralised governance and development in India. It provides a historical overview of developments since the introduction of decentralisation reforms (73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts) and critically assesses the measures initiated to strengthen decentralised institutions and deepen the grassroots democracy. It also discusses the status of service delivery and identifies issues and challenges involved to achieve development at the local level. The volume studies themes such as devolution of power in India, administrative and fiscal decentralisation, decentralised planning, Panchayats in scheduled areas, sociological aspects of decentralisation, caste, gender and local democracy, capacity building, ICT for local governance, urban local governance, workfare and decentralisation, decentralised natural resource management and also looks at Panchayati Raj institutions from a Gandhian perspective. The first of its kind, this handbook will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of decentralisation and development, development studies, fiscal decentralisation, political studies, political sociology, Indian politics, Indian government, public policy and governance, political economy, South Asian studies, and South Asian politics.