CONTENTS Preface xv 1 INTRODUCTION I 2 PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA 8 Ancient Period : Historical Aspects 8 Medieval Period 10 Modern Period 11 Physical Features 12 Rivers 13 Climate 13 Demographic Characteristics 14 Principal Castes and Communities 14 Minorities 15 Literacy 15 Occupational Pattern 15 Land Holding Pattern 16 Irrigation Facilities 16 Cropping Pattern 17 Facilities for Education 17 Minerals 18 Industries 19 Tobacco Re-drying 20 Animal Husbandry 20 Dairy Development 21 Transport and Communication21 Banking 21 Health Care 21 Electricity 22 3 GRAM PANCHAYAT SARPANCHES : ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL PROFILE 23 Section I Demographic Profile 24 Age 24 Sex 25 Education Qualification 26 Occupation 27 Income 28 Section II Social Profile 29 Location of Residence 29 Religion 30 Caste 31 Marital Status 31 Nature of Family 32 Section HI Analysis of Gram Panchayat Sarpanches 35 Inferences 35 4 PANCHAYATRAj SYSTEM IN INDIA : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS 37 Patterns of Panchayat Raj 37 Gram Sabha37 Composition of Gram Panchayat 38 Reservation of Seats 38 Election of Sarpanch 39 Disqualification of Members 39 Powers and Functions of Gram Panchayat 40 Functional Committees 40 Transfer of Property 40 Taxation Powers 40 Constitution of Mandal Parishad 41 Composition of Mandal Parishad 41 Reservation of Seats 41 Election of President 42 Permanent Invitees 42 Special Invitees 42 Powers and Functions of Mandal Parishad 42 Constitution of Zilla Parishad 43 Composition 43 Permanent Invitees 43 Reservation of Seats 43 Election of Chairman 44 Standing Committees 44 The Chairman 44 Power to Cancel Resolutions of PRIs 44 Power to Dissolve PRIs 44 Removal of Non-officials 45 Motion of No Confidence 45 Constitution of State Election Commission 46 No Party-based Elections 46 Election Proceedings 46 Reservation till A.D. 2010 47 Finance Commission 47 State Usurps more Powers 5 ISSUES IN DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION Democratic Decentralization Administrative Decentralization Fiscal Decentralization Concept of Centralization Concept of Decentralization Concept of Democratic Decentralization Panchayat Raj in Andhra Pradesh: Developments over Time 56 6 GRAM PANCHAYAT SARPANCHES : SELECTED CASE ANALYSIS 61 Case 1 61 Developmental Activities Carried out in the Panchayat 63 Case 2 65 Developmental Activities Carried out in the Panchayat 65 Future Works 66 Case 3 66 Condition of Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat 67 The Constraints 67 Maintenance of Records 67 Major Source of Income 67 Relations with Mandal/District/Other Officials 68 Functioning of Women Members 68 Case 4 68 Case 5 69 Development Activities Carried out in the Panchayat 69 Future Activities 69 Case 6 70 Case 7 71 The Co-operation of Non-resident Andhras in Janmabhoomi Works 71 Case 8 72 7. A CRITIQUE ON PERFORMANCE OF GRAM PANCHAYAT SARPANCHES 74 8. CONCLUDING REMARKS 83 Annexures 89 Bibliography 110 Index115