CONTENTS Contributors to this Volume . 19 1. Rural Development and Panchayats: An Introduction BIBEK DEEROY 21 2. Agriculture and Rural Development: Towards a Policy Framework YOGINDER K. ALAGH .. 35 Introduction Diversification and Structural Change The Road Map Perverse Economics Land and Water Development Strategies Road Map: Some Details Financial Reform and Issues Hunger and Poverty Forests Fish Land Reform Small Towns and Rural Linkages Conclusion 3. How well are the Villages Equipped: Creating a Future Growth Potential Index at the State Level DEBASHIS CHAKRABORTY AND ARUP GUHA 49 Introduction Choice of Variables Proximity to Administrative Centres Access to Rest of the Economy Physical and Social Infrastructure Coverage of Government Support Programmes Energising Rural Development through 'Panchayats' ..CONTD... Presence of Private Initiatives Methodology Interpretation of the Results 4. More Rural Roads = Fewer Villages LAVEESH BHANDARI .. 65 5. Background i, The Facts The future Road Connectivity Conclusion: The Windfalls and Concerns Panchayati Raj Movement in India: Retrospective and Present Status P.D. KAUSHIK Introduction Panchayati Raj: Road to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 73rd Amendment - Establishment of Panchayati Raj in India Panchayati Raj - Constitutional and Legal Framework Institutions - Changing Indian Polity Emergence of Women's Leadership Political Space to Marginalised Sections Impediments for Panchayati Raj: Conformity and Operational Issues Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Conduct of Panchayat Elections Devolution of Financial Powers to PRIs Devolution of Functions and Functionaries Constitution of District Planning Committees (DPCs) Status of Gram Sabha Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 Checks and Balances over PRIs and Accountability Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Panchayati Raj Institutions Parallel Organisations and PRIs 77 6. Panchayati Raj: Women's Empowerment P.D. KAUSHIK 151 Introduction Panchayati Raj Status of Women in Indian Polity Retrospective Contents Current Status Social and Economic Characteristics of Women Representatives Pakasma Panchayat, Rohatak District Literacy Level Income and Occupation Functioning of Panchayats and Women Representatives Attendance at the Panchayat Meetings Panchayati Raj: Gender Exclusion Social Constraints Institutional Constraints Key Issues: Women Empowerment through PRIs Women in Panchayats: Capacity Building and Systemic Improvements Training Political Participation Organizing Self-Help Groups Conclusions 7. The Working of Agricultural Cooperatives in India: Is there any Lesson to Learn from the Chinese Experience? MOHAMMED SAQIB AND DEBASHIS CHAKRABORTY .. 187 Introduction Evolution of Laws related to Cooperatives in India The Weakness of Cooperatives in India The Rural Scenario Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs) in China Evolution of TVEs in China Legal Regulation on the Governance of TVEs TVEs: The Fact Sheet The Role of Community Government Recent Policies Conclusion 8. Panchayati Raj - Civil Society and ICT Initiatives P.D. KAUSHIK .. .211 Introduction Voluntary Sector Voluntary Sector: Indian Scenario Voluntary Sector: Land, Water and Livelihood Integrated Watershed Development: Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Management Mission, Madhya Pradesh Involvement of Women in Agriculture: TANWA. Tamil Nadu Voluntary Sector: Human Development and Social Services Energising Rural Development through 'Panchayats' ..CONTD... 9. Education- Lok Jumbish Project Health- Family Planning Association of India Voluntary Sector: Linking People to Markets Voluntary Sector and Panchayats Panchayats and Voluntary Sector: Successful Interventions PRIA: Capacity Building and Advocacy Civil Society: Focus Areas in Panchayati Raj Voluntary Sector: Issues and Concerns Monitoring and Evaluation of Schemes Implemented through Voluntary Sector Informational Imbalances Illustrations of Informational Inadequacies Digital Divide and Rural Needs Rural Society ICT Initiatives in Rural India Government Sponsored ICT Initiatives ICT Initiatives of Civil Society ICT Initiatives Promoted by Industry Challenges in Scaling-up Impact of IT Initiatives on Developmental Objectives Employment Generation Attracting Private Capital in Pursuit of Social Goals: A Social Investing Approach to Indian Micro Credit RAJIV LALL . 287 What is Social Investing The Public Goods Supply Chain The Smart Subsidy as Catalyst The Development of the Micro-finance Sector in Asia Commercial Viability of the Micro-finance Sector in Asia The Indian Micro-finance Sector Lok Capital: A Model for Creating Large Scale, Commercially Viable MFIs in India Conclusions 10. Rural Development: Decentralisation and Rural Markets P.D. KAUSHIK .305 Introduction Decentralisation: Theory and Practice Rural India: An Introspection Central Government Programmes for Rural Development Contents Barriers to Rural Development Rural Development: Systemic Essentials Rural Business Hub: An Alternative Plan for Rural Prosperity Conclusion 11. Addressing Food Security Concerns in India: An Analysis of Various Policy Options DEBASHIS CHAKRABORTY 357 Rig/it to Food The PDS System Food Security: Improving or Worsening? The Tenth Plan Document The Committee on Long Term Grain Policy Recent Initiatives Effectiveness of Food Stamp Programme: A Cross-Country Experience Feasibility of Food Stamps in India: A Review of Issues Alternate Options Food Vouchers Mid-day Meal Schemes Grain Bank Schemes Conclusion Annex 1: 10* Plan Document on Targeted Public Distribution System Annex 2: I0'h Plan Document on Food Stamp Programme Annex 3: Committee on Long Term Grain Policy's Recommendations Annex 4: Supreme Court Verdicts on Right to Food Annex 5: Status of Mid-day Meals in Different Parts of India on 12 July 2004 Annex 6: Characteristics and Impacts of Food Stamp Programmes in Selected Countries - Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Honduras, Mexico, the United States and Romania Amexure: Suggested Activity Mapping For Panchayati Raj Institutions (As Approved by the Cabinet Sub-Committee) 427 Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations . 467 Consolidated Bibliography . 475 . . .. 483