CONTENTS Chapter 1: Panchayats As A Bridge: 1-29 Linking Accelerated Growth with Inclusive Growth Chapter 2: Designing Effective Devolution 31-114 2a: Crafting Institutions for Self-government: 33-58 Functions and Functionaries for Panchayats 2b: Fiscal Devolution and Finances of Panchayats 59-114 Chapter 3: Panchayats in Planning & Implementation 115-184 3a: Panchayats and District Planning 117-134 3b: Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Parallel Bodies and Panchayats 135-164 3c: Delivering Rural Development Programmes: 165-184 An Assessment of the Role of Panchayats Chapter 4: Disadvantaged and Panchayats 185-265 4a: Women and Panchayats 187-206 4b: Socio Political Empowerment of Scheduled 207-224 Castes (Dalits) through Panchayati Raj: Potential yet to be Harnessed 4c: Tribals and Decentralisation 225-265 Chapter 5: Institutional Backup for Panchayats 267-338 5a: State Election Commissions 269-290 5b: State Finance Commissions and Panchayati Raj Institutions 291-310 in India. 5c: Audit 311-326 5d: Social Audit 327-338 Chapter 6: Training and Capacity Building 339-358 Chapter 7: Panchayats in the 21st Century: ICT Enabled Panchayati Raj 359-379 Chapter 8: Summary of Conclusions, Devolution Index & Way Ahead 381-408 Annexure I: Panchayat & Elected Representatives Statistics 409