Grassroots democracy in India: An evolutionary experience

The emergence of Local Self Governing institutions like Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India signifies the reach of Indian democracy to the grassroots. The Constitution of India originally did not have any provisions for PRIs, albeit a mere mention in the DPSP, not even mandatory. It was only after the enactment of the 73^rd and 74^th Amendment Acts 1993 and 1994 respectively that the institutions of Local Self Government were firmly established in India. However, the highly centralizing tendency of the Indian state mars the real essence of grassroots democracy and effective people's participation in it. This paper will be an attempt at exploring the trajectory of evolution of PRIs in India from the post-Colonial era till the 73^rd and 74^th Amendment Acts, 1993 and 1994 respectively. It will also try to see whether centralization has given way to effective decentralization post-amendment period and whether the perception of the political parties and people towards Local Self Governments has changed from perceiving it as a mere agent of central government to an institution of political power and development.