Abrahim Lincon has aptly called democracy as the form of government, which is of the people, for the people and by the people”. However, this sense of democracy is meaningless without democratic decentralisation. Panchayati Raj Institutions are the main agencies of democratic decentralisation in rural India, engaged in activities of rural development and political participation of people in decision making process. Zila Parishad, the Apex body of rural local government existing at district level, has been reviewed and analysed in light of 73rd Constitutional (Amendment) Act of 1993 in the state of Haryana with reference to Sirsa Zila Parishad. Besides the structural and functional aspects of Zila Parishad, its financial position has been appraised as well as the representation and participation of women and weaker sections in these bodies of local government has been assessed. Purposive-cumsimple random sampling techniques were used for collection of primary data from the Sirsa Zila Parishad representatives elected in 2010 with the help of interview schedule and observation techniques.
Panchayati Raj Institutions, Zila Parishad, Political Participation, Democratic Decentraliztion, Representation
