India Under Challenge: Lessons from Panchayati Decentralization to Grassroots Democracy

Abstract

This research article, titled “India Under Challenge: Lessons from Panchayati Decentralization to Grassroots Democracy”, aims to examine the political, fiscal, and public health challenges affecting the decentralization process in the Republic of India. The study uses a qualitative research methodology based on document analysis from secondary sources, focusing on the study of the period from the post-1992 constitutional amendment to the present. the study reveals that the Panchayati Raj system still faces significant challenges in achieving fiscal autonomy. Many local governments remain dependent on budget allocations from both the central and state governments, which limits their financial independence. Furthermore, the central government retains legal authority to intervene in local governance. In terms of public health decentralization, the study identifies persistent problems such as shortages of medical resources and healthcare personnel, as well as limitations in local administrative autonomy over human resource management.