Decentralized local development planning and financial resources for Gram Panchayat : a case study in Cuttack Sadar Block, Orissa, India

Author: Itishree Pattnaik

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-04-02

Year: 2004

Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)

Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2004

Examination Committee: Jayant Kumar Routray (Chairperson); Soparth Pongquan, Willi Zimmerman (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: The decentralization of planning process is the only path for a better governance in allover the world. This system is for the people and by the people. Although the decentralization process in India particularly in Orissa has been introduced since four decades, but it has taken a new dimension with many devolutions included by the constitutional amendments, which enabled the political, administrative and financial decentralization to the hands of Panchayatraj. The success of the decentralization depends on the clear cut delivery of political, administrative and financial decentralization to the hands of Rural Local Governance, especially to the lowest tier of Panchayatraj i.e. the Grama Panchayat. Although the Orissa government has implemented the decentralization process through Panchayatraj system, there is a lack of sufficient devolution of financial strength to the hands of Grama Panchayat, which makes the decentralization process a void. The thesis is an exploration of the financial decentralization into the hands of Grama Panchayat, intended to bring forth the small but vital gaps remaining in the system of Panchayatraj, which limits the success of Grama Panchayat. The thesis has tried to reinforce the financial strength of Grama Panchayat system, depending on which the other strengths are revolving. Although there is a good amount of freedom given for local level planning, the application of which depends on financial strength of Grama Panchayat for achievement. The thesis tries to show the weaknesses and deficiencies prevailing in the interior and exterior of Grama Panchayat. Further the thesis also has tried to focus on the peoples’ attitude towards Grama Panchayat, because, the decentralization requires a total participation of people in every stage of planning process. Their opinion, views helped to explore the bottlenecks in the decentralization process. The important findings have come up that the Grama Panchayat is weak in context of finance. Although there are many responsibilities given to the h

Scholarship Donor(s): Government of The Netherlands, AIT

Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

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Search keywords index: Itishree Pattnaik Decentralized local development planning and financial resources for Gram Panchayat : a case study in Cuttack Sadar Block, Orissa, India Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP) Decentralization in government — India — Orissa;”Rural development — Planning — India — Orissa”;