Local Governance/Panchayati Raj

Local governance institutions make efficient public service delivery possible by serving unmet local needs. From planning the new - such as schools and roads - to spending on the old like a well-maintained sewage system, the lowest tier of government is best placed to monitor and improve development at the local level. The vision for India’s Panchayati Raj system was increased participation of this tier in public service delivery and administration. Yet their full potential remains unrealised despite the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments of 1993 and 1994 giving them more powers. At Accountability Initiative, we focus on the reasons why. We offer insight on the current status of devolution across the 3Fs - funds, functions and functionaries - map bottlenecks faced in implementation, track public expenditure and assess the pace of institutional reform.