Decentralization and Social Inequality

 

Does decentralization bridge the gap of social inequality?

Decentralization through 73rd and 74th constitution amendment act (in 1992) came in the purview of constitution and forced towards decentralized democracy, while at the same time some communities or groups were facing the socioeconomical inequality, like women representation, Dalit and backwards castes communities’ representations.

So, the question arises that, after the 20 years of remarkable decentralized system of democracy such as PRI (Panchayat Raj Institutions) and municipality system, Is the social gaps or inequality filled by decentralization or not?

Decentralization is not necessarily conducive to local democracy. In fact, in situations of sharp local inequalities, decentralization sometimes heightens the concentration of power and discourages rather than fosters participation among the underprivileged. To illustrate, in some tribal areas where upper caste landlords and traders dominate village affairs, the devolution of power associated with the panchayat raj amendments has consolidated their hold and reinforced existing biases in the local power structure.

 

Problems, challenges and solutions:

1.  Decentralization doesn’t bridge the gap of social inequality: 1/3rd seats are reserved for women in PRI while at the same time “Sarpach Pati” is prevalent social structure of the village, where women even doesn’t know the position, she has and her husband practices the power of representation on the name of her.

Women representation can be seen only on the pseudo data or in official files of that states to improve the ranking of that district or state in NITI Aayog competitive index.

In a case study, it is found that even in official meeting of the Gram Pradhan with district magistrate or state officers “Pradhan Pati” represents and present in the meeting while the real representatives are not allowed or presented. (Survey area: Deoria District, Uttar Pradesh)

 

§  UP has highest number of women elected in Local governance while the position of women is worst in UP, according to PRI and NCRB data Respectively.

Kerala practised “Kudumbashree” self help group for women to increase their actual representation rather than effective representation in PRI system.

 

Solutions: special department should be there to awaken the women and help them to know their power of representative at grassroot level, regular involvement of women at upper-level meeting and capacity building mechanism should be there through self-help groups and NGOs.

   

2.  Reserved seats of backwards castes in PRI are based on rotation wise, which is demarcated by the number of populations from that communities in that village and election commission delimited through that data and constituencies.

On These reserved seats only from reserved community member will fight the election but it is not surprising that those low caste or backward caste members are backed by Upper caste high social profile persons.

And power again shifted in the hand of those upper caste people in that village.

Upper caste backed the reserved caste by forcing them to take money to fought election. For example, it is observed that in a grassroot level election, practice of distribution of Cloths to families and specially to women and children, liquor distribution, even meat and mutton distribution are very frequent and common. These practices cost thousands of rupees and it is very hard for the lower caste to burden the cost of these practices and hence they are motivated by the upper caste to take money from them and do these necessary practices to win the election.

This is like a trap of upper caste to take power in their hand.

Solutions: Similar to “Kudumbashree”, State government, NGOs and SHSs should came together to solve the problem of this pseudo representation of underprivileged groups and communities.

Implement the capacity building mechanism for these groups and special dedicated training centres to achieve the real meaning of decentralized democracy which is inclusive and socially equal.

·      Close watch by administration and government on informal money lending practices during election. Some fixed amount should be transfer to these community to burden the cost of election. (Recommended by 2nd ARC 2005, Indrajit gupta committee 1999 “State funding of election”)

It is important to look over the issue of social inequality or gaps in holistic and wide horizon rather than only focus on reservation and percentage of reservation. Reservation and decentralization are great tools to improve social inequality but it is needed to improve the methodology of reservation and pseudo methods which is practicing to improve the social inequality.   

 


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