1. Trend Towards Decentralization: Global and Indian Experience
1.1 Meaning and Scope of Decentralization
1.2 Decentralization: Global Scenario
1.3 Decentralization in India
1.3.1 Constitutional Status to Panchayats
1.3.2 Main Features of Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act
2. Inter-government Financial Transfers in India
2.1 Fiscal Federalism: An Introduction
2.2 Federal Constitution of India
2.3 Fiscal Federalism in India: Evolution and Structure
2.4 Expenditure and Tax Assignments in India
2.4.1 Assignment between Centre and State Governments
2.4.2 Assignments between State and Local Governments
2.5 Fiscal Imbalances: Trends and Issues
2.5.1 Vertical Fiscal Imbalance in India
2.5.2 Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance in India
2.6 Inter-government Transfers
2.6.1 Volume and Composition
2.6.2 Finance Commission Transfers
2.6.3 Planning Commission Transfers
2.6.4 Assistance for Centrally Sponsored Schemes
2.7 Infrastructure Financing at the State Level
2.8 Fiscal Decentralization and Local Governments
3. Financing of Panchayati Raj Institutions
3.1 Importance of Local Government Finance
3.2 Decentralization of Powers and Functions
3.3 Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution (Article 243G)
3.4 District Planning Committees
3.5 Financing of Panchayats
3.6 Trends in the Revenue and Expenditure of Panchayats
3.7 Role of State Finance Commission
3.8 Central Finance Commission
3.9 Role of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
3.10 Reforming Rural Fiscal Decentralization in India
4. Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Development
4.1 Decentralization and Rural Development
4.2 Rural Infrastructure Development
4.3 Rural Roads
4.3.1 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
4.3.2 Bharat Nirman
4.3.3 Role of Panchayats
4.3.4 Financial Outlay and Expenditure
4.3.5 Targets and Achievements
4.3.6 Policy Initiatives and Restructuring of PMGSY
4.4 Rural Housing
4.4.1 Indira Awaas Yojana
4.4.2 Physical and Financial Performance
4.4.3 Bharat Nirman
4.4.4 Policy Initiatives and Restructuring of IAY
4.5 Rural Drinking Water Supply
4.5.1 Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP)
4.5.2 Role of Panchayats
4.5.3 Financial Progress and Physical Progress
4.5.4 Bharat Nirman
4.5.5 Policy Initiatives
4.6 Rural Sanitation
4.6.1 Sanitation Policy of India
4.6.2 Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)
4.6.3 Physical Progress
4.6.4 Financial Progress
4.6.5 Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP)
4.6.6 Policy initiatives and restructuring of TSC
4.7 Rural Electrification
4.7.1 Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY)
4.7.2 Finances for RGGVY
4.7.3 Progress of RGGVY
4.8 Many Others Development Programme
4.8.1 National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
4.8.2 Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
4.8.3 Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
4.8.4 National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
4.8.5 Mid-day Meal Scheme
4.8.6 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
4.9 Elements of a Well-designed Panchayati Raj System
4.9.1 Designing, Planning and Implementation System
4.9.2 System for Good Accountability
4.9.3 Transparency
4.9.4 Strengthening the Gram Sabha
4.9.5 Capacity Building and Training
4.9.6 Backward Region Grant Fund
4.9.7 Rural Business Hubs
5. Review of Literature on the Subject
6. Summary and Policy Recommendations
Appendix: Main Recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission
Bibliography; Index
