Decentralised governance in India: The anticipated and the unanticipated

Abstract

This chapter highlights some of the unanticipated consequences of decentralised governance in the context of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in India. It presents a synoptic review of the benefits accruing out of the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act in relation to its impact on social structure and processes of politicisation. Although PRI policies have not led to substantial improvement in the quality of delivery of public services at the grassroots, they have created an unanticipated public good of making the rural stratification system quite malleable. They have done so by opening up the field of political representation to the hitherto marginalised communities. Arguably, an unanticipated consequence of a policy should not necessarily be detrimental to the overall public good even when it undermines the efficacy of the anticipated policy outcomes.