Study on Economic Development and Income Generation through Panchayats in Rural Areas Funded by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.

KDS has initiated a study on the role of Panchayats in ensuring inclusive economic development and income generation in their respective Panchayat areas through undertaking various economic activities and converging various resources at their disposal.

The major objectives of the study are to:

• Understand the status of involvement of Panchayats in promoting economic development and income generation in their respective areas.


• Explore and suggest potential areas of involvement of the Panchayats towards ensuring local economic development and income generation


• Make recommentations for strengthened role of Panchayats in economic development in equitabe manner in their areas withn existing frameworks and available resources under varius funds, different central and state sponsored schemes its own revenue sources etc.

Study on Documentation of the Governance Arrangements in Non-Part IX Areas of North Eastern States” Funded by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India

KDS has started a study on governance arrangements in Non –Part IX Areas of North Eastern State in March 2018. Parts IX of the Constitution have not been extended to entire Meghalaya. Parts IX does not cover Nagaland and Mizoram. Parts of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura are governed by the provisions of Sixth Schedule. The national self-governance frame in Part IX (Panchayats) and Part IXA (Municipalities) covers a few North Eastern States. Statutory Autonomous Councils are established by some States through Acts passed by the respective State Legislative Assembly. Traditional institutions such as Village Development Council continue to function in most of these States. Within these parameters the present study provides objective assessment of the governance arrangement in these States. This study examines how far ADCs and other administrative structures in NE States have been performing obligations towards local governance.The study covers the eight North Eastern States - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura the tribal dominant areas.The main objective of the study is to examine how far ADCs and other administrative structures in NE States have been performing obligations towards local governance.

The specific objectives of the study are to:

• Analysis of the local governance system in each State and its comparison with the Part – IX areas in that State, wherever applicable.
• Suggest options for deepening democracy in these States and adoption of better provisions of these States, if any, by other States

KDS has completed the field survey and prepared the first draft report

Study Project covering Assam and West Bengal: A Study on The Actual Status Of Devolution To Panchayati Raj Institutions Funded by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India

This is a national study of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India covering all the Indian states and Union Territory. Our organization was one of the 10 agencies involved in the study. Our institute has carried out a study on the Actual Status of Devolution to Panchayati Raj Institutions in the states of Assam and West Bengal. The Study was based on both secondary data and on primary data. The secondary data - State Panchayat Acts, rules, regulations, notifications, etc. issued from time to time, data from all line departments, State Election Commission, State Finance Commission, data related to Centrally Sponsored Schemes, etc. The primary data was collected through a well-structured questionnaire from the State Panchayat Department, SFCs, SEC, and Line department involved in covering all 29 subjects listed under the Eleventh Schedule. Draft is approved.

Need Assessment and Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation for Backward Grama Panchayat, Tribal Panchayat and Revenue Deficient Municipalities, supported by Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala

Government of Kerala has entered into agreement with the World Bank for implementing Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project (KLGSDP) for providing financial assistance to raise the level of service deliveries by Local Governments using modern tools of planning, development, project implementation and transparency in administration to ensure increase in revenues and enhance utilization of finance resources, thereby improving the quality of lives of the people. KLGSDP has assigned two municipalities and one Panchayat to KDS Delhi to conduct a study to ascertain the infrastructure development and service delivery needs and then prepare 13 DPRs to fulfill the identified needs through the funds available under IDA /World Bank assistance.

Need Assessment and selections of projects was carried out through a participatory approach. The data and information for this exercise were collected both from primary and secondary sources. KDS has prepared the Detailed Project Report for 13 development projects in two municipalities and one Panchayatagainst the World Bank funding Rs. 12 Crores

The 13 DPRs are as follows:-

Alappuzha Municipality

• Dialysis Unit in Alappuzha Government General Hospital with Building Maintenance Alappuzha Municipality
• Building of Municipal Health Office with Solar Electrification as a new Zonal Office Of Alappuzha Municipality

Muvattupuzha Municipality

• Construction of Community Hall
• Renovation and Modernization of Fish Market
• Construction of Toilet Block and related amenities in Eastern Bus stand Yard
• Infrastructure Support to Government School at Sivankunnu
• Infrastructure support to Maradi Govt. School
• Infrastructure support to Govt. JB School at Vazhapally

KadappuramGrama Panchayat

• Construction of a Gasified Crematorium
• Solar Electrification of GP Office Complex
• BUDS School– Special School for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children
• Supply of Drinking Water through Developing a New Water Source
• Improvement of basic infrastructure and construction of an Anganwadi building in Tsunami rehabilitation colony

All the DPRs are finalized and got approved.KDS has extended all the services in getting the administrative approval of the respective district planning committee and technical sanction. After the approval the construction work has been started. The task of KDS has been completed.

Training Need Assessment of PRIs and Gram Sabha members in Haryana funded by Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Nilokheri, Haryana

This is a project to evaluate the impact of the training programmes conducted by the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) on the capacity building of the elected representatives of PRIs in the BRGF districts of Haryana in terms of understanding their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of various Rural Development Programmes. It has carried out a Training Need Assessment of Panchayati Raj Functionaries for effective implementation of Rural Development programmes for the state of Haryana. The project covered an assessment of the impact of Training on Women and Marginalized Sections in Haryana. We have analyzed training impact on the role of elected representatives of Panchayats in the implementation of various rural development programmes.

With a view to improve the effectiveness of the training programmes of HIRD and to enhance the performance of elected representatives of PRIs in understanding their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of various rural development programmes, various measures are recommended. These include improvement in the Contents of Training Programmes, Improvement in Study Material, Improvement in Training Methodology, change in the Size of Group and duration of Training. The study was sponsored by Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Government of Haryana. The study is approved by Government of Haryana.

“A Study on Effectiveness of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Health Care System in the State of Kerala”

KDS has initiated a Planning Commission sponsored study on effectiveness of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in health care system in the State of Kerala. As Kerala is one among the states where the implementation of the Panchayati Raj Act has been successfully done and all 29 subjects, including health, mentioned in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution have been transferred to the PRIs and their functions are clearly demarcated among the three tiers, Planning Commission has assigned a study to KDS to capture the picture of functioning of health institutions in Kerala. The findings of the proposed study will enable Planning Commission to formulate an action plan to enhance the role of PRIs in public health delivery system and to tackle associated problems, especially issues related to duality of responsibilities and controls in health care system. The specific objectives of the study are as follows:

• Critically examine the structure of public health institutions and devolution of functions, funds and functionaries to PRIs in health care system in the State of Kerala.


• Analyse role of bureaucracy and assess the impact of duality of responsibilities and controls in health care system in the State of Kerala.


• Identify problems and deficiencies on account of duality of controls and responsibilities and suggest measures to improve rural health delivery system.


• Formulate an action plan for increased participation of PRIs in rural health delivery system.


• Draw lessons from experience of Kerala, the State which has transferred its public health institutions to local government institutions well in advance for the consideration of other Indian states.


• Prepare “best practices” of PRIs in public health services in Kerala for the dissemination among various Indian States.

A Poverty Eradication Programme in Kerala Performance, Impact and Lessons for other States

KDS has carried out an evaluation study on Kudumbasree, a SHG based rural livelihood programmer in Kerala. KDS has analyzed the impact of KDMS as a poverty eradication programmer and examined if it has reduced poverty substantially through effective co-operation and partnership with local governments. It has also suggested measures to improve effectiveness and impact of KDMS on poverty in view of changing national and global socio-economic scenario. It has examined the replicability of KDMS in other states of India as a poverty reduction programmer through decentralized structures. The study has formulated an action plan for replicating the programmer in other states of India.

The detailed report is available at http://planningcommission.gov.in/reports/sereport/ser/ser_kudu.pdf

Strengthening of Local Government Institutions in the Implementation of Right to Education Act: Bihar, Kerala and UP in a Comparative Perspective”.

KDS has initiated a research study on “Strengthening of Local Authorities in the Implementation of Right to Education Act: Bihar, Kerala and UP in a Comparative Perspective”.

The objectives of the study are as follows:

• Evolve a methodology for evaluating the role and functions of local government in the implementation of Right to Education Act 2009.


• Using the newly developed methodology, carry out a comparative assessment of the role, functions and responsibilities of local government in Bihar, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.


• Assess the preparation, capacity enhancement and framework needed for local governments to play their role effectively in Bihar, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.


• Suggest measures to improve school environment, infrastructure, teacher’s commitment, parents’ involvement and the delivery of other educational services with the support of local government.

The study is sponsored by National University of Education and Planning / Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Dr.Jacob John is the Director of this research study.

Setting up of database of Network of Resource Persons on local government (NRLG)

Institute has set up a web enabled data base of resource persons on local government (NRLG) from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa and West Bengal (www.nrlg.org) . The project is supported by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. In the next phase, the database will be expanded by covering subject wise and state wise details of resource persons.

Objective of this project is as follows:

• Facilitate Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, other ministries and departments of central and state governments in using the inputs of resource persons in (a) building the capacity of elected representatives and officials of local government institutions (2) local level planning (3) execution of various government programmes through local government institutions.


• Position the members of the network as specialists in the field of local governance in India to promote the interests of local governments and the decentralization process in India.


• Identify and explore various opportunities for the resource persons to use their inputs for the better functioning of local government.

Resource Persons are:

• Independent writers and thinkers in the field of Panchayati Raj Institutions.


• Independent researchers/ resource persons in the field of Panchayati Raj Institutions.


• Well – experienced former and current elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.


• Faculties of Research Institutes/ Universities / Other educational institutions working in the field of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

By using the database and network, a social capital is being built up in the field of decentralization and local governance. KDS-Delhi has been maintaining the website (www.nrlg.org) and the database by providing several services to local government resource persons.