This is Bharat’s Amrit Kaal; Bharat is at a turning point in its history. The 21st century will be Bharat’s century, as the country pole-vaults into the future confident of its capabilities. It is the 5th largest economy in the world today. By 2047, Bharat is poised to be a US$ 30 trillion economy with all the attributes of a developed nation. The 73rd constitutional amendment of Bharat will have its own glorious story to narrate.
Bharat has been transformed on many fronts and is ready for take-off to its dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. As the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi, says, “Through all-around progress and grassroots-level participation, the government is working towards making ‘Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday’ a reality.”
The introduction of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ (MGMG) and the whole-of-government (WOG) approach has transformed Bharat’s administrative functionaries, bureaucracy, and policy formation and implementation. The concept of MGMG advocates for the efficient functioning of a state with minimal political interference in the lives of its citizens while ensuring robust and transparent governance.
Bharat’s governance system has transitioned from a highly centralised model inherited from the British colonial rule to a more integrated and decentralised approach. The policy further advocates for a lean, responsive government that empowers citizens and institutions at the grassroots level rather than controlling them through excessive bureaucracy. The implementation of the 4Ds, viz. Delegation, Decentralisation, Digitalization and Desk Officer System at all levels of government administration, is nothing but fructifying. These reforms aim to empower lower levels of government, improve decision-making, and make the administrative machinery more agile.
Delegating refers to assigning responsibilities to specific officers, empowering lower levels of governance, enhancing accountability, and reducing bottlenecks in decision-making. The government minimises unnecessary intervention from higher levels and ensures greater focus on individual tasks. Decentralisation refers to the process of reducing the number of hierarchical layers or involves the transfer of decision-making power from central authorities to regional or local governments to streamline decision-making and promote faster execution of policies.
Digitalisation involves the use of technology to streamline government processes, enhance transparency, and ensure efficient delivery of public services. It also acts as a key pillar of the MGMG approach, enabling the government to minimise physical intervention, while ensuring maximum governance through the use of technology. E-governance platforms, online service portals, and digital identification systems help reduce the need for physical visits to government offices and enable citizens to access services and information from the comfort of their homes. The desk officer system assigns specific tasks and responsibilities to individual officers, creating clear accountability and ownership over particular areas of governance.
The year 1993, with its 73rd constitutional amendment, remarks a historic chapter of modern political and administrative reforms. The Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI) principle acquires a unique significance with the embodiment of decentralised governance and plays a pivotal role in translating the ideal of grassroots democracy into practice. Their effective functioning is crucial to realising the vision of governance that is participatory, transparent, and locally accountable.
PRIs serve as the ideal institutional mechanism, aligning with the philosophy of bringing governance closer to the people. It is the foundation of local self-government. PRIs seamlessly align with the spirit of MGMG, along with incorporating the 4Ds. The amendment was a major step in democratising governance by bringing power closer to the people. It laid the groundwork for inclusive development, participatory planning, and local accountability—key ingredients of good governance.
Delegation involves cutting through bureaucratic red tape. This refers to the removal of unnecessary hierarchical layers in governance to improve efficiency and reduce delays in decision-making. In many states across the country, the governance structure above PRIs remains heavily layered, with overlapping functions between departments and multiple approvals required for basic development work.
Delegating sanctioning powers directly to Panchayats for small-scale projects reduces the number of intermediaries between Gram Panchayats and district-level departments. Empowering elected representatives with quicker, independent decision-making authority will not only increase the speed of governance; but also reduce corruption, as more transparent processes emerge. This also enables PRIs to act swiftly in matters such as disaster relief, public health emergencies, and the implementation of welfare schemes.
Decentralisation involves empowering local decision-making. Decentralisation is the heart of both, the Panchayati Raj system and the idea of MGMG. The amendment laid the foundation for decentralised governance by creating a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishad. It entrusted PRIs with planning and executing development programs and managing local resources.
Real decentralisation goes beyond structure; it requires the devolution of functions, funds and functionaries. Currently, the devolving can be witnessed only on paper and not in reality. Effective decentralisation involves granting PRIs authority over key subjects like health, education and agriculture, ensuring timely and adequate financial transfers. Appointing trained personnel to support local administration brings true decentralisation by enhancing local ownership, ensuring context-specific solutions, and fostering accountability.
Digitalisation involves strengthening transparency and efficiency. In the era of e-governance, digitalisation is a key tool to enhance transparency, accountability and delivery of services. The government’s e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project is a step in this direction, aiming to automate functions like budgeting, accounting, and project tracking at the Panchayat level. Digitalisation supports the principle of MGMG through:
- Online portals and dashboards for tracking fund utilization and project progress
- Mobile apps for grievance redressal and citizen feedback
- Geo-tagging and GIS mapping of assets to improve planning and avoid duplication
- Digital attendance and biometric systems to ensure regularity and accountability of Panchayat functionaries
Digital tools ensure that governance is data-driven, real-time and citizen-centric, thereby reducing the dependency on centralized bureaucracies and enabling smarter decision-making at the village level.
Desk Officer System involves streamlining accountability. The system though more common in urban administration and higher bureaucracy, can be adapted for PRIs to improve administrative efficiency. Under this system, specific officers are assigned responsibility for specific subjects or schemes, creating clear lines of accountability.
As we celebrate Panchayati Raj Day, it is time to renew our commitment to empowering rural Bharat through strong, transparent and accountable local governance. Coined as a governance mantra in recent years, ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ calls for a government that acts more as a facilitator than a controller.
The vision of MGMG can only be achieved when we enable our Panchayats to take charge of their destiny with autonomy, digital tools, reduced bureaucratic hurdles and active community participation. The MGMG finds its most practical and meaningful expression in the Panchayati Raj system. By adopting the 4Ds we can transform PRIs into dynamic engines of grassroots development. These reforms not only strengthen local institutions; but also foster a governance model that is citizen-centric, transparent and agile.
Empowering Panchayats through this framework ensures that governance is not about control from the top; but about capability at the bottom where real Bharat lives. The future of Bharatiya democracy and development depends on how effectively we can translate this vision into reality. In the words of former PM, late Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, “Panchayati Raj is a tool for economic and social change in Bharat’s rural areas.”
– Advocate Archana Govind Joshi
The author is a research fellow at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai.
Thought provoking and well written article…Kudos to the author for sharing the facts…Excellent work 👏