Book Reviews
| Author | Rajni Kumari |
| Date | 01 January 2014 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120140121 |
| Published date | 01 January 2014 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
190
I
INDIAN
JOURNAL OF
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
VOL. LX, NO.
J,
JANUARY-MARCH 2014
the socio-economic context
of
the country. The book provides different
success stories through case studies in different states which illustrate the
remarkable journey
of
local-self governance. While giving example
of
case
studies the book gives a diverse social, political and economic set-up where
it shows the quantum
of
self-rule within that.
It
also explores the nationalist
contour in terms
of
structure and functions.
The books illustrates that the PRis in India have remarkable success
so far in tenns
of
democratic devolution, deepening
of
democratic practices,
participation
of
women, dalits, tribals and execution
of
development
pr~grammes
at village level, etc. The book equally emphasizes the challenge
ahead such
as
lack
of
political will, role
of
state government, delegation
of
financial and functional authorities, autonomy, the report
of
State Finance
Commission, lack
of
District Planning Commission, lack
of
funds, role
and functions
of
Panchayat with the Members
of
Parliament Local Area
Development Scheme (MPLADS) and establishment
of
parallel institutions
for Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), etc.
It also explores the issues
of
local administration and its relation with
Panchayat, its hierarchical nature, lack
of
staff and interfering role
of
bureaucracy
as
a hurdle for the self-governance. Notwithstanding, in view
of
all these hurdles the growing tendency
of
assertiveness by local
representatives creating a good prospect
of
self-governance.
The book has outlined the complete journey
of
Panchayati Raj system
from need
of
governance in globalized world to establishing just and an
equitable social order in India. Further, issues
of
corruption and its curative
mechanisms seem more appropriate in this important work. The appendix
attached with the book should have also been added some constitutional
provisions for many readers who are not fully aware about that. The
provisions
of
Fifth Schedule
of
the Constitution
of
India and Panchayat
(Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) have well taken but
Sixth Schedule and its related provisions would be more appropriate from
the reader's point
of
view.
-RA.JNI KUMARI
Panchayati Raj In India
M.
AsLAM,
National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2007, reprint 2010, 2011,
Rs.90.00.
Foundations
of
Democracy
or
Panchayati
Raj
(Nehru: 1959) means
bringing real democracy to make the villagers politically conscious and
take the responsibility
of
development.
In
view
of
present developmental
challenges it becomes imperative that a bold step be taken whereby more
and more responsibility could be transferred to the people. This has been
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