In a revealing assessment of India's governance framework, Dr. S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), has highlighted a paradoxical challenge facing the nation's development trajectory. While advocating for greater decentralisation of power to states, he disclosed that some states themselves are resistant to devolving authority further down the governance chain.
The Centralisation Conundrum
Speaking at a recent event in Delhi, Dr. Dev emphasized that India needs more decentralisation to effectively address regional disparities and accelerate economic growth. However, he pointed to a significant hurdle: "Some states are resistant to devolving power to local bodies," creating a bottleneck in the entire governance structure.
Why Decentralisation Matters for India's Future
The EAC-PM chairman outlined several critical benefits of enhanced decentralisation:
- Better targeted development programs that address local needs
- Improved implementation of central and state schemes
- Enhanced accountability at grassroots level
- Faster economic growth through regional empowerment
- Reduced regional disparities in development outcomes
The State-Level Resistance Challenge
Dr. Dev's comments shed light on a rarely discussed aspect of India's federal structure. While states frequently demand more autonomy from the central government, many hesitate to extend similar autonomy to local governance institutions within their own territories.
This creates a fundamental contradiction in India's governance model - states want power devolved to them but are reluctant to share this power with local bodies, municipalities, and panchayats.
The Way Forward: Cooperative Federalism 2.0
The EAC-PM chairman stressed that "cooperative federalism" must extend beyond centre-state relations to encompass state-local relationships. He suggested that without this comprehensive approach, India's development goals might remain challenging to achieve.
Dr. Dev's remarks come at a crucial time when India is positioning itself as the world's fastest-growing major economy. The effectiveness of governance structures will play a decisive role in determining whether this growth translates into inclusive development across all regions and sections of society.
Implications for Economic Development
The resistance to decentralisation has significant economic consequences:
- Delayed implementation of development projects
- Inefficient allocation of resources
- Reduced effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs
- Slower progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals
- Limited innovation in governance at local levels
As India continues its development journey, the debate around decentralisation and power devolution is likely to intensify. Dr. Dev's candid observations have opened an important conversation about the need for consistent application of federal principles across all levels of governance.
