DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR: A STUDY OF PRE-370 PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS IN SAMBA DISTRICT

Abstract

Decentralization is the process of downward devolution of powers, authority, functions, people, and things away from central control. Democratic Decentralisation means the delegation of authority, planning, and decision-making from the government at the centre to the local governments or the local administrative units. Decentralization helps in increasing the people’s participation in the process of policy formulation and policy implementation and also in identifying their needs and preferences. In India major step in the direction of democratic decentralization is the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act as this act provided constitutional status to local governments at rural and urban levels respectively. It empowers the weaker sections of the society like SCs, STs, OBCs, and Women by providing them reservations in local government. The present paper studies the process of democratic decentralization in Jammu and Kashmir and the main focus is on the system of Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir which deals with the district, block, and village (halqa) level institutions in rural areas. The paper will highlight the various structural and operational weaknesses in the Panchayati Raj act that hinders the development of Panchayats as an institution of Rural local Self-Government. It will also highlight the democratic decentralization experiences in Jammu and Kashmir and the need of reinventing governance at the grass-root level.