ARCHIVES
VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Self-Government and human welfare in rural India: The role of local governance in development
Authors
Dr. Jayaprakash R
Abstract
The nationwide adoption of decentralization and people's participation
in governance served as major milestone in the democratic process to make local
self-government an essential part of India's body politics. The constitutional
amendments known as the Seventy Third Constitution Amendment Act of 1992,
however, were a transformative moment adding a new dimension to democratic decentralisation.
This article explores local governance in India and its consequent role in
deepening the political participation, promotion of inter-group social
inclusion and conditionality of democratic accountability. It further
critically examines the inherent problems — structural, political and fiscal —
that limit its efficiency. Based on secondary literature and comparative
analysis of the experiences at the two state levels, especially differences
between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, I argue that local governance in India is
beyond merely administrative dispensation; it is woven into a developmental
architecture whose democratic content holds implications for human welfare.
Strong local government institutions are critical for deepening democracy and
enhancing participatory governance, but they can play a possible role provided
specific deeply entrenched impediments are overcome that are not simply
structural but essentially political.
Download
Pages:200-203
How to cite this article:
Dr. Jayaprakash R "Self-Government and human welfare in rural India: The role of local governance in development". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 200-203
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.