Pravin KaushalNew Delhi, Dec. 22 -- In 1993, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment was hailed as the dawn of Gram Swaraj - village self-rule rooted in democratic decentralisation. The promise was clear: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) would no longer be mere implementing arms of Delhi or state capitals, but genuine institutions of self-government. Three decades later, that promise is gasping for fiscal breath. India has successfully elected millions of village representatives.
What it has failed to do is give them the one thing that guarantees autonomy: control over money. A recent RBI report on the Finances of Panchayati Raj Institutions presents a stark picture. Own Source Revenue (OSR) remains negligible, with Panchayats depending on sta...