Impact of Panchayati Raj Insititutions on Socio Economic Development of Rural Households in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Panchayati Raj Institutions inter-alia have initiated the process of socio-economic newlinedevelopment of rural areas by ensuring participatory management of masses and implementation of newlinevarious social upliftment and poverty alleviation schemes. They are expected to bring radical newlinetransformation in rural areas through holistic agricultural and institutional development. In a state like newlineHimachal Pradesh where majority of the population lives in rural areas this study becomes more newlinerelevant as PRIs embrace every aspect of rural life and are considered as harbingers of democracy and newlineguardians of the village community. Therefore, present study was conducted to examine and analyze newlinethe role and impact of Panchayati Raj Institutions on the rural households in the four districts viz., newlineSolan and Una (developed districts), Chamba and Sirmaur (under-developed districts) of Himachal newlinePradesh using both primary and secondary data. Multistage random sampling technique was employed newlineand a total sample of 8 blocks, 40 panchayats/villages and 200 sample respondents was selected. The newlinefindings of the study put forth that in all the selected panchayats meetings of Gram Sabha were newlinescheduled four times annually but the quorum was not met more than two times in most of the selected newlinepanchayats. The study employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to devise the development newlineindex for various selected panchayats. Fifteen per cent (6 no.) of panchayats primarily of Una and newlineSolan districts were very highly developed and 22.50 per cent (9 no.) panchayats were highly newlinedeveloped while all the less developed panchayats were from Chamba and Sirmaur district showing newlinethat these panchayats still lag behind in developmental indicators. It was observed that around 29.50 newlineper cent respondents from developed districts and 26.50per cent respondents from under-developed newlinedistricts respectively were ready to pay for conservation of natural resources while 20.50 and 23.50 per newlinecent respondents from developed and under-developed districts were unwilling to pay for resource newlineconservation as they felt it would not be utilized effectively. In under-developed districts as the bid newlinevalue increased the willingness to pay decreased. The study also put forth the different source of newlineincome for panchayats in which maximum share was of external sources i.e. Funds under Centre newlineSponsored Schemes like MGNREGA, PMAY, NRLM, etc. and funds from Finance Commission, newlineacross majority panchayats. Panchayats generated lot of income from various internal sources in which newlinemaximum share was contributed by liquor cess followed by house/land tax across all sample newlinepanchayats. Panchayats were effectively utilizing funds available with them by community asset newlinecreation, land development, sanitation, water supply, electrification, and welfare etc. Respondents in newlinethe study area felt that various activities were adequately being done by panchayats but there was scope newlinefor improvement by ensuring more transparency in their working, by timely execution of works and newlineensuring that works to be done in the panchayat area are taken up with the consent of all people. newlineTherefore it is felt that by ensuring capacity building of panchayat representatives, recruitment of newlinetechnical and support staff and by creating awareness among masses about the importance of gram newlinesabhas and their participation in them could lead to holistic and effective socio-economic development newlinein rural areas newline