| ID | 110824 |
| Title Proper | Working of decentralized governance in rural India |
| Other Title Information | social dynamics or institutional rational choice? |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Udayaadithya, A ; Gurtoo, Anjula |
| Publication | 2012. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This paper critically evaluates the popular representation of rural decision making in India as guided by socio-cultural dynamics and as a resort from various social alignments. It investigates how decisions get taken about a decentralized governance scheme in rural India, what variables impact these decisions - namely, social, political, administrative or economic - and how these variables impact the scheme performance. Case studies and empirical analysis of performance of a decentralized welfare scheme in India, the Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (APREGS), demonstrates significant influence of agriculture-based economic dynamics and administrative efficiency factors. Local social hierarchies and cultural complexities do not come as the main concerns. These results challenge the traditional understanding of rural dynamics as totally controlled by caste hierarchies and authority of the large land owners and are discussed in the light of the institutional rational choice framework proposed by Elinor Ostrom. The results also call for a fresh and wider debate of whether India is witnessing a longer term indirect developmental outcome of empowerment which actively started in 1993 with the recognition of local governance systems (Panchayati Raj) as a formal democratic body. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Asian and African Studies Vol. 47, No.1; Feb 2012: p.101-118 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Asian and African Studies Vol. 47, No.1; Feb 2012: p.101-118 |
| Key Words | India ; Institutional Rational Choice ; Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ; Socio - Political Dynamics |