Historical Perspective

1. Background to PRI
2. Development of PRI in post independence period
3. Early 90s (73rd Amend Act)
4. Critical Analyses
   - Areas of deficiency
5. Historical Perspective PRI have an indigenous root

• We have had concept of Panchayats working as judicial, executive & legislative forms at grass root
• Though a pan Indian phenomenon, these have been variations in terms nature, composition & functions.

North India

2 types

1. Gram Panchayats
   Secular institutions dealing with affair of Executive legislative & judiciary.
2. Caste Panchyats to enforce caste norms by every Caste.

Southern States

The caste panchayats was itself in the Gram Panchayat.

During Mughal Period there was dilution in powers of Panchayats.

Pachayats as indigenous governing systems faced threat in British Rule Coming of East India company & British started systematizing administration based on rule of law and came out with judicial & executive laws. These had on impact on grass root as well setting up of local administration further challenged Panchayats 1687 – Local administration in Madras not an elected rather nominated body.

Significant efforts for local government were taken post 1857. Initiatives beyond 1857 to bring local government were primarily financial in nature, administration in nature but not political. The Process was further expedited by recommendation of famine commission of 1881. 1857 Britain reels under deep financial crises also realized that to rule properly it must have roots at grass root/bottom all these resulted in Lord Mayo’s Resolution regarding local government majority of it was to be nominated. It was Local government not local self government (no Political Feature) Focus on relieving financial burden.

Lord Ripons Resolution of 1882 or Local self government the political tone of local government came by Lord Ripon’s resolution of 1882 of local self government. Locally elected local government.

2/3rd members to be elected and charred by non official contradictory to basic British ethos. In response there was stiff reactance by British bureaucracy & British government proposal was thus slowly implemental and in late 19th century it was withdrawn early 20th century the political demand for local self government came up 1906 session of congress some initiatives in thus regard were taken in Government of India Act of 1919.

Provision of Abject in Transferred Last

Subsequently followed by Government Act 1935

Various legislations was came in various provinces but could not start as Britain was engaged in war. Same status continued till 1947.

Post independence framing of Constitution which had 2 views

Ambedkar’s – “Village Panchayats have been ruination of India It is surprising my that those who advocate democracy & freedom are supporting Panchayats what is Panchayat?, heaven of parochialism den of ignorance, communalism and narrow mindedness and I am happy that Constituent assembly has chosen individual and not village as the unit of administration”

Gandhian View

Concept of Village

Republic to be a unit of self sufficiency and also of self government.

The Gandhian view point is known as concept of “OCEANIC CIRCLE” power to flow from bottom to top.

In actuality the Gandhian view was initially not there but due to his resistance it was included in Directive Principles of State Policy.

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