Pune: Urban and rural local bodies (ULBs/RLBs) should be considered the first tier of governance due to their direct interaction with citizens, suggested Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Vice President, PIC, at the Annual Conference on ‘Democratic Decentralisation and Strengthening the 3rd Tier Government’ held at the PIC Campus, Pashan.
Highlighting the importance of local governance, Dr. Kelkar challenged the perception of local bodies as the third tier and called for inclusive policies tailored to regional challenges. He also stressed the need for greater collaboration between think tanks and policymakers to shape governance reforms.
The conference brought together experts, policymakers, and former bureaucrats, who collectively advocated for:
Stronger financial autonomy for local bodies
Enhanced citizen participation in governance
Systemic reforms to unlock India's urban growth potential Independent evaluation mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability
Key Discussions and Recommendations
Empowering Local Governments Through Fiscal Reforms
Addressing key legislative and financial challenges, Mr. Sunil Kumar, former Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Member, PIC, pointed out gaps in current laws and the lack of financial autonomy for local governing bodies.
He emphasized the need for:
Alternative revenue generation models, including property tax reforms and public-private partnerships
Legislative reforms to eliminate overlaps in urban and rural governance policies
Enhanced citizen engagement to improve accountability in local governance
Prof. Abhay Pethe, Senior Fellow, PIC, advocated for capacity-building initiatives and independent assessment frameworks to improve transparency and efficiency in local governance. He suggested that systematic evaluations would help curb bureaucratic inefficiencies and promote effective policy implementation.
Dr. Ajit Ranade, former Vice Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, focused on the imbalance in rural-urban funding and called for more autonomy at the local level. He highlighted the necessity of equitable resource distribution to foster balanced regional development.
Dr. Chandrashekhar Pran, Founder, Teesri Sarkar Abhiyan, emphasized the role of citizen involvement in governance, distinguishing between administrative control and decentralized decision-making. He encouraged open village discussions to boost democratic engagement and ensure more effective governance mechanisms.