Decentralised Governance and Service Delivery in India

Abstract

<p><em>Decentralised governance has occupied a very prominent place in nation building and developmental strategies of developing countries in recent years. It is sometimes viewed as either a panacea or plague. Some argued for it on the grounds that it promotes efficiency, effectiveness and equity in delivery of services. According to them, it facilitates people's participation, preferences and helps to mobilise both human and financial resources as well as contains corruption and ensures accountability. Democratic decentralisation tends strongly to enhance speed, quantity and quality of responses from government institutions. Here, Local Self-Governments have both the authority and resources to respond quickly to mitigate problems and pressures from below without waiting for approvals at higher levels. Development is not just a basket of new investments and programmes but it is also a means to deliver quality public services to citizens and these are civic services, social services, welfare services etc. </em></p> <p><em>The present study is empirical in nature. It covers citizens as a beneficiary of services in grassroots level with the aim to look after the delivery of services in decentralised Local Self-Government in the state Tripura, India. Data was collected through structured schedules from three-tier rural local bodies along with citizens like beneficiaries of various services in grassroots level. Purposive and random sampling methods were used for the study. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with the citizens of the villages. The study provided the findings of civic services, social services, welfare services, governance related services and others.</em></p>

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