Context
Grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) aims to create a bottom-up approach to governance, where local communities have a significant say in decision-making processes. This approach is crucial in a region with diverse cultures, languages, and geographical challenges.
Key aspects
- Decentralization: Devolving powers at the grassroots level through decentralization by strengthening the local self governments such as Panchayati Raj Institutions, Municipalities, and DDCs to make decisions for development and management of resources.
- Participation: Promoting communication of the public through gram sabhas (village meetings), hearing the public and consulting them so that they give a variety of opinions.
- Inclusivity: The provision of democracy whereby everyone, especially the vulnerable groups and the minority, women and the youths are accorded a place in the decision making.
- Transparency and Accountability: Popularizing rights to information act, social audits, and grievance redressal machinery mechanism so that accountability becomes transparent.
- Capacity Building: Sensitization of local representatives as well as citizens so that they become more capable to perform assigned tasks and functions.
Challenges
- Political instability and conflict: Due to the politically volatile environment and past instances of militancy in J&K it has been difficult to develop Democracy at grass root level.
- Limited resources and infrastructure: Due to lack of adequate funding, poor infrastructure, and poor or limited resource endowment the exercising of local governance has been compromised.
- Social and cultural barriers: Therefore cultural and social ground has remained as a core determinant that limits weak structures minorities, women and youths.
- Bureaucratic hurdles: Determination from bureaucratic autonomies and poor support from state agencies have however stemmed the development of grassroots democracy.
Initiatives and successes
- Panchayati Raj Act (1989): An act which passed through parliament and held significance in decentralization of powers to local agencies.
- Establishment of District Development Councils (DDCs): The production of a new tier of governance that enhances decentralisation.
- Back to Village and My Town My Pride programs: Proposals that are geared towards re-establishing grassroots democracy and increasing people’s participation.
- Increased participation of women and youth: Participation of women and youths in local governance, which is a trend that shows an increasing trend.
Way forward
- Strengthening institutional frameworks: Incorporating features which would improve the working efficiency, shallower and broader powers of local bodies.
- Enhancing citizen awareness and engagement: Civic engagement entails civil education as citizens need to be educated on the rights and responsibilities.
- Addressing developmental disparities: Priority given to the principles of equitable growth in order to reduce differences in the regions’ development.
- Fostering a culture of transparency and accountability: Promoting transparency in government and engagement of the citizenry in its functions.
Source: PIB