Decentralisation : Institutions Justice and Social Development in India

Contents Foreword. Preface. I. Introduction 1. Decentralization an overview of global and regional scenario. II. Decentralisation and the dynamics of institutions 2. Institutional reforms for Panchayati Raj towards linking cooperatives with local governments. 3. Panchayati Raj institutional dimensions and deficiencies. 4. Proliferation and interface of institutions under decentralised planning the Kerala experience. III. Decentralisation inclusion and participatory justice 5. Towards an Artisan plan. 6. Participatory justice and human rights protection in little democracies. IV. Decentralisation transparency and social development 7. Accountability and transparency in decentralization the Kerala scenario. 8. Local self governments and educational development in Kerala. Consolidated bibliography. Index. The trend towards decentralization worldwide has been accompanied by differing perceptions on its costs and benefits. Decentralization of power from the centre to the provinces districts and villages of course enables people to participate in decision making more directly. However democratic decentralization requires more than just decentralization and devolving power. It also envisages widening participation of the marginalized women minorities and the poor and increasing accountability of public officials at local levels. Framed against the above background the book presents an introductory overview of the global and regional processes in decentralization and proceeds to unfold the dynamics of institutional proliferation/linkages issues of inclusion and participatory justice protection of human rights at the grassroots accountability and transparency under decentralized governance and social development perspectives of decentralized planning process. Apart from its broad reflections on the Indian scenario the book captures the specific experience of Kerala in decentralization over the last decade. 216 pp.