21-Mar-2023: Strengthening of Panchayati Raj System

To strengthen Panchayati Raj System and thereby improve the rural areas of the country, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is implementing the (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with the primary objective of strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building and training of the elected representatives and the functionaries of the PRIs, providing infrastructural support like Gram Panchayat Bhawan and Computerisation,   (ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a Central Components of RGSA scheme to encourage competitive spirit among PRIs under which, Awards including financial incentives are given to best performing Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public good, (iii) Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats, a Central component of RGSA scheme under which various e-governance projects are funded towards digitalization of Panchayats to bring in efficiency, accountability and transparency in the functioning of the PRIs for overall transformation of PRIs (No funds are released to States under the scheme).

Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for not less than one-third reservation for women in PRIs out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. As per the information available with the Ministry, 21 States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, and 2 UTs namely 'UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu' and 'UT of Lakshadweep' have made provision for 50% reservation for women in PRIs in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. In respect of remaining Part-IX States/UTs, Constitutional provision, as prescribed in Article 243D, applies.

Further, Government has been encouraging increased involvement of women in the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats. This Ministry has also issued advisories to the States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings, enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.

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7-Feb-2023: Effects of Delimitation on Southern states

Delimitation

• Is the act of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.
• Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions were set up 4 times - 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002.
• First delimitation exercise was carried out in 1950-51 by the President with the help of the Election Commission.
• Constitution mandates allocation of seats in Lok Sabha based on the population of each state.
• Last delimitation exercise was completed in 1976 based on the 1971 census.
• Constitution was amended during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency rule in 1976 to suspend delimitation until 2001.
• Another amendment was postponed delimitation until 2026

Constitutional provisions:

• Article 82: Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census
• Article 170: States were divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census

Need:

• Equal representation to equal segments of a population
• Fair division of geographical areas
• One Vote One Value principle

Delimitation Commission

• Appointed by President of India
• Works with Election Commission of India
• Composition
  • Retired Supreme Court judge
  • Chief Election Commissioner
  • State Election Commissioners
• Functions
  • Determine number and boundaries of constituencies
  • Make population of all constituencies nearly equal
  • Identify seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• Powers
  • Majority opinion prevails
  • Orders have force of law
  • Cannot be challenged in court.

How Delimitation is Being Unfair to the Southern States?

Development

• Southern states have improved economically in recent years.
• There has been a significant reduction in poverty and an increase in income levels.
• The combined GDP of just three Southern states is greater than 13 states in the East.

Educational and Health Outcomes

• Southern regions have performed better in terms of children being enrolled in schools and having better learning outcomes.
• A higher proportion of graduates in Southern states indicates the greater prevalence of a specific set of skills.
• Tamil Nadu has 314 Covid testing centres for a population of 78.8 million as of December 2021, while Uttar Pradesh has only 305 Covid testing centres for a population of 235 million.

Governance Factor

• The ability to discern and the quality of decision-making must be significantly better in Southern states.
• The electorate in Southern states is more likely to vote for better governance compared to the North.

Advantages for the North

• The existing distribution of parliamentary constituencies across the States is tilted in favour of populous states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
• Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka have a lesser number of seats.
• Delimitation will result in a decrease in the number of seats allocated to Southern states, compared to the Northern states, during the next delimitation process.
• During the electoral representation, it should be kept in mind that it is not the number of people, but their quality that should be the deciding factor.

Issues:

• Inadequate representation: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gain 21 seats, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala lose 16 seats.
• Affects the reservations of seats for SCs/STs.
• Inadequate funding: Southern states will lose funding and representation in parliament.
• Demographic dividend: Legislators and policymakers will have to factor in demographic and political changes over 60 years.

Recommendations:

• Establish a robust plan: Make a firm commitment to reallocating resources after 2031 without further delays.
• Increase the number of seats: MPs representing smaller constituencies for more efficient governance.
• Increasing the number of seats is a more politically feasible option as it is easier for politicians to agree to adding seats in certain areas or states, rather than giving up seats in areas where they have more power.
• Maintain existing position: Increase the total number of seats to ensure that no state loses seats.
• Adequate representation: Plan for at least 888 seats in the new Lok Sabha for adequate representation.

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