In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have…

Question

In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically discuss.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Panchayats and Samitis often act as political arenas because of capacity deficits, patronage and proxy rule, but the deeper cause is weak devolution rather than low education. Kerala's People's Plan Campaign of 1996 shows that funded, trained panchayats work as real instruments of governance.

**Introduction**

In Rajbala v. State of Haryana (2015) the Supreme Court upheld minimum schooling for Panchayat candidates, echoing the statement. Its diagnosis is partly valid: Panchayats and Samitis often act as arenas of patronage, but low education is a symptom of weak devolution and organisation.

**Why Panchayats Remain Political Arenas**

SKETCH: spectrum | Panchayats Between Politics and Governance
left: Political arena
right: Governance instrument
- Proxy-run panchayat
- Scheme delivery agent
- Gram Sabha planning
- Self-governing body

1. **Capacity deficit**: Many sarpanches cannot read budgets, and one secretary often serves several panchayats, so decisions drift to block officials and local brokers.
2. **Patronage**: Indirectly elected chairpersons of Samitis and Zila Parishads mirror party and caste bargaining, and beneficiary lists reward loyalty.
3. **Proxy rule**: "Sarpanch-pati" rule prompted the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to set up the Sushil Kumar Committee (2023).
4. **Thin powers**: Own sources give Panchayats only about 1% of revenue (RBI, 2024), and devolution reached just 43.9% on the Panchayat Devolution Index in 2021-22.

**Where Panchayats Work as Instruments of Governance**

1. **Need-based planning**: Kerala's People's Plan Campaign (1996) and Gram Panchayat Development Plans show panchayats plan well when given funds and technical support.
2. **Women's leadership**: Chattopadhyay and Duflo (2004) found women-led panchayats invested more in drinking water.
3. **Accountability tools**: MGNREGA social audits and e-GramSwaraj accounting make panchayats answerable.
4. **Learning, not exclusion**: RGSA trained about 23.14 lakh women representatives in 2022-25, a better route than education bars that exclude Dalit and women aspirants.

**Conclusion**

The statement holds where Panchayats lack power but misplaces the cause on education. Devolving funds, functions and functionaries, with a trained Panchayat cadre, will turn them into instruments of grassroots governance.

In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically discuss.

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