यद्यपि पंचायती राज संस्थाएं (PRIs) प्रतिस्पर्धी राजनीति के लिए एक मंच बन गई हैं, किंतु इनका नियोजन एवं सेवा वितरण की प्रक्रिया में उद्भूत नहीं हुआ है। क्यों? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए) / Though Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have become a platform for competitive politics, they have not emerged as an agency of planning and service delivery. Why? (Answer in 250 words)

PRI institutions were established by 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1993 and gave practical shape to Article 40 of Gandhian Vision of 'democratic decentralization'. PRIs — platform of competitive politics → i) local body elections → multiple central, state parties, contest elections. ii) Grassroot leadership developed. iii) Women leader due to 33% reservation. iv) Powers as per LISH → Taxation, local issue giving scope for discretion. Not emerged as agency of planning and service delivery → i) Gram Sabha → supposed to go for planning and consensus building (direct democracy embodiment) is weakest link (Not practiced in reality). ii) Devolution of powers as per states discretion so capabilities not created. iii) Elite capture of institutions by PRI by upper caste dominance, strongman politics. iv) Bureaucratization and 'centralization' tendencies (states themselves have less power and are glorified municipalities) (Ashok Mehta Committee). v) Lack of taxation powers → internal resource generation low so cannot provide service delivery.

vi) Institutions of planning like State Finance Commission (SFC) Article 243-I not timely constituted and report ignored. vii) District planning committee → meetings not frequent and DM controls the proceedings. viii) Corruption → Division of funds → lack of accountability mechanism like Social Audit or Citizen Charter. ix) Activity mapping via Subsidiarity principle (2nd ARC). i) Video recording of meetings (Mandandekar higher committee). ii) Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) scheme in mission mode to be further enhanced and PRI ASOFT software used for bargaining. iv) Enhance capability of PRI elected member to take part in planning. v) Social Audit computing for demand side need. Necessary to ensure PRI fulfil mandate and lead to 'sustainable development' and fulfill Gandhi 'Swaraj' to 'Swaraj' (Good governance).

— Nisar Dishant Amrutlal · AIR 19