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Institutional Change and its Impact on the Poor and Excluded: The Indian Decentralisation Experience. D Narayana, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, INDIA. Salient Features of Local Governance. Persons chosen by direct election to fill seats Seats shall be reserved for SC/ST
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Institutional Change and its Impact on the Poor and Excluded:The Indian Decentralisation Experience D Narayana, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, INDIA
Salient Features of Local Governance • Persons chosen by direct election to fill seats • Seats shall be reserved for SC/ST • One-third the number of seats reserved for women • Offices of chairperson shall also be reserved for women/SC/ST • Shall plan for economic development and social justice OECD Conference
Institutional Change for Participatory Democracy • Representation for socially and gender disadvantaged • Gram Sabha (village assembly) has to approve plans • and budgets • In conception Panchayats are local self governments • In practice size and structure of Panchayats vary • across Indian states • Devolution of functions, powers, and resources vary • Some are truly local governments; some mere agents OECD Conference
Research Questions • Do women, the socially excluded, like scheduled castes and tribe, and the poor actively participate in the LSGIs? • What are the determinants of their participation? • What are the policy conclusions? • Question is addressed by taking three states: • Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh • Falling into three distinct size structure of LSGIs OECD Conference
Lower Participation by Women • F Literacy (%<5 years schooling) -MP(70), TN(30), KER(20) -GG: MP(20), TN and KER (0) • F NP Readership: MP(7), TN(49), KER(69) -GG 20,10,10 • SHG membership: MP(15), TN and KER (>30) -Regular meetings: 0, 67, 75 -%Discussing PRI: 0, 3, 55 • Membership of Political parties: 2,1,11 -GG: 0,30,17 OECD Conference
Participation by SC/ST vs. Others Literacy: MP, TN- no difference; KER- SC lower NP Readership: MP, TN- no diff.; KER- SC lower MP, TN: ST/SC on par with OBC economically SHG membership: MP- ST<OBC; TN- SC=OBC; KER- SC>OBC,FC Political Party membership: MP, TN- no diff; KER- SC>>OBC,FC OECD Conference
Participation by the Poor vs Rich • F Literacy: MP- no difference; TN, KER- Poor < Rich; • F NP Readership: MP- low for all; TN- poor<rich; KER- poor<<rich • SHG membership: MP- poor<<rich; TN,KER- no difference • Pol Party membership: MP- no difference; TN- poor<<rich; KER-poor>>rich OECD Conference
Participation of the Poor and Excluded • Literacy and NP readership is necessary but not sufficient to ensure participation • A vibrant civil society does not necessarily lead to higher participation • A vibrant political society leads to higher participation • Lack of political mobilisation leads to the exclusion of the poor and elite capture • Size of local governments has no influence but structure has OECD Conference