Decentralised planning in India is a process where decision-making power is distributed among various economic agents to encourage direct public participation in the development of the state or country. This shift became necessary after the relative failure of earlier multi-level planning models, leading to the landmark 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
The Path to Constitutional Status
For decades, several committees recommended moving power away from the center to ensure planning was more responsive to local needs:
- 1957: The Balwant Raj Mehta Committee established the initial framework for village, block, and district panchayat institutions
- 1984–1985: The Hanumantha Rao and GVK Rao Committees emphasized the decentralization of functions, powers, and finances to manage development programs effectively at the district level.
- The Result: These efforts culminated in the 73rd Amendment (granting constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions for rural areas) and the 74th Amendment (for Urban Local Bodies. These institutions are now constitutionally mandated to include representatives from women and other deprived sections of society.
Key Advantages of Decentralised Planning
Based on the sources, decentralizing the planning process offers several strategic benefits:
- Participatory Democracy: It implements the true meaning of democracy by letting people make their own decisions; for example, under the Swachh Bharat Mission, many critical decisions are taken at the local level using a bottom-up approach.
- Social Inclusion: It ensures that marginal sections, such as women, SC/ST, and transgender people, are included in the planning process through reserved tiers of government.
- Diversification: The Gram Sabha—which includes all registered voters in an area—allows for multidimensional views based on different religions, castes, and economic capacities.
- Resource Mobilisation: Local authorities are often better aware of local situations and resources, leading to initiatives like the “One District One Product” program.
- Better Crisis Management: During the Covid-19 crisis, local authorities acted as the first point of contact for the people, enabling quicker decisions regarding lockdowns, food delivery, and medicine.
- Improved Work Culture: Providing autonomy to bottom-level executives increases their satisfaction and motivation while reducing the burden on top-level national executives.