Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 150
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 151
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 97
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

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        LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Strengthening panchayat raj    </title>
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INDIA&rsquo;S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very..."/>
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INDIA&rsquo;S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very..." />
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                            <p align="justify"><font >INDIA&rsquo;S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very important weaknesses in our panchayat raj institutions. True, some states have notable achievements to their credit in this respect, but taking an overview of the national situation it can be clearly stated that the objectives of genuine decentralisation and taking grassroots democracy to the doors of the poorest and the most neglected have not been realised yet.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Some of the area-specific weaknesses of panchayat raj, which have been making news recently, are obvious enough. In Jharkhand, panchayat elections have simply not been held so far, a serious violation of important constitutional obligations. It may be true that there have been a few complications here and some litigations there, but surely the constitutional obligation to hold panchayat elections should override the relatively smaller considerations that should have been sorted out by the state government long ago.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >In Jharkhand and in other states having Scheduled (tribal) areas, it appears that there is a particular reluctance to implement the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area legislation which, if properly implemented, can be a great help in reducing displacement, destructive mining practices, alcoholism and other problems. In Goa, efforts appear to have started to further dilute even the limited decentralisation that has taken place so far.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Beyond these area-specific issues, however, perhaps the most pervasive problem is corruption. Although the situation can differ in various states to some extent, on the whole it is a very widespread phenomenon that substantial &ldquo;commissions&rdquo; play an important role in the smooth transfer of development funds to villages. Once commissions have been paid to officials, the accounting starts with false entries, the elected village head-person (call him sarpanch, pradhan or any other local name) says, more often than not, that &ldquo;now I&rsquo;ll take my share, partly to cover my election expenses and partly to earn something extra&rdquo;. By the time all the entrenched vested interests have satiated their appetites, almost half the development funds may be lost.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >On the other hand, the honest head-persons find it is increasingly difficult to get their funds or to get their schemes approved. I knew a Dalit pradhan in Saharanpur district who was so famous for his honesty that the entire village celebrated when he was elected. But when all his honesty (and his refusal to compromise) failed to get any development funds for his village, people who had supported him so much grew restless with him. He died a broken man.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Many pradhans from weaker sections never get a fair chance to function in a free and democratic manner by the most influential and powerful persons in the village. There have been cases where these pradhans from weaker sections who tried to assert themselves have been harassed endlessly, attacked or even killed by local powerful persons and mafias.<br />Recently, a Delhi-based organisation, Association for Local Governance of India, organised a meeting of several such head-persons from the weaker sections, other honest pradhans and those who were willing to raise their voices against irregularities. What emerged from the several interesting and educative experiences narrated by these village head-persons was that while there was still room for persons of outstanding ability and determination to fight the corrupt system (with some help from voluntary organisations and the media) on the whole corrupt practices were extremely well-entrenched.<br />Is anyone even seriously trying to fight this widely pervasive corruption? There is at least some evidence that several politicians, officials and businessmen are actually quite happy with it. In Uttarakhand, largescale dam construction work involving massive corruption proceeded at a brisk pace because village level clearances from pradhans could be obtained using corrupt practices in most places. If the existence of a corrupt system enables powerful forces to have their sway over vast rural areas, why should they bother about checking corruption (beyond lip-sympathy)? Also, it is most likely that a significant part of the massive leakages from development funds and other corrupt deals reaches the upper layers of the power structure as well.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >It is uncomfortable truths like this which are all too often brushed aside and buried under the carpet at official functions. The prevailing corrupt political and economic system finds it easier to live with a corrupt panchayat raj. It is easier for the powerful to work through a corrupt panchayat raj system as this allows them enough space to extend their sway over more and more rural communities for a small price.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >As social activist Aruna Roy says, &ldquo;After all, panchayats too are a power structure. True decentralisation means moving beyond this and reaching all villagers.&rdquo; This is why the institution of gram sabha or the assembly of all villagers is so important. Increasingly, the success of panchayat raj will be judged now by the extent to which the gram sabha or the entire village community is being strengthened and empowered. The real challenge is to try to ensure that most villagers, particularly the weaker sections and women, participate actively in the gram sabha and then to ensure that what the gram sabha says and its will cannot be ignored at the panchayat and higher levels. This is how the village community will be democratised and strengthened. And once the villages are awake, only then will pressure build to bring genuine decentralisation and allocate more and more functions and powers (and resources to go with them) to village communities.</font></p>                                                           
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    <br><a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893" class="re" target="_blank">The Statesman, 29 September, 2009, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893</a><div class="clear"></div>
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    <h1 class="cat-box-title">Strengthening panchayat raj</h1>
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                            <p align="justify"><font >INDIA&rsquo;S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very important weaknesses in our panchayat raj institutions. True, some states have notable achievements to their credit in this respect, but taking an overview of the national situation it can be clearly stated that the objectives of genuine decentralisation and taking grassroots democracy to the doors of the poorest and the most neglected have not been realised yet.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Some of the area-specific weaknesses of panchayat raj, which have been making news recently, are obvious enough. In Jharkhand, panchayat elections have simply not been held so far, a serious violation of important constitutional obligations. It may be true that there have been a few complications here and some litigations there, but surely the constitutional obligation to hold panchayat elections should override the relatively smaller considerations that should have been sorted out by the state government long ago.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >In Jharkhand and in other states having Scheduled (tribal) areas, it appears that there is a particular reluctance to implement the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area legislation which, if properly implemented, can be a great help in reducing displacement, destructive mining practices, alcoholism and other problems. In Goa, efforts appear to have started to further dilute even the limited decentralisation that has taken place so far.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Beyond these area-specific issues, however, perhaps the most pervasive problem is corruption. Although the situation can differ in various states to some extent, on the whole it is a very widespread phenomenon that substantial &ldquo;commissions&rdquo; play an important role in the smooth transfer of development funds to villages. Once commissions have been paid to officials, the accounting starts with false entries, the elected village head-person (call him sarpanch, pradhan or any other local name) says, more often than not, that &ldquo;now I&rsquo;ll take my share, partly to cover my election expenses and partly to earn something extra&rdquo;. By the time all the entrenched vested interests have satiated their appetites, almost half the development funds may be lost.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >On the other hand, the honest head-persons find it is increasingly difficult to get their funds or to get their schemes approved. I knew a Dalit pradhan in Saharanpur district who was so famous for his honesty that the entire village celebrated when he was elected. But when all his honesty (and his refusal to compromise) failed to get any development funds for his village, people who had supported him so much grew restless with him. He died a broken man.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Many pradhans from weaker sections never get a fair chance to function in a free and democratic manner by the most influential and powerful persons in the village. There have been cases where these pradhans from weaker sections who tried to assert themselves have been harassed endlessly, attacked or even killed by local powerful persons and mafias.<br />Recently, a Delhi-based organisation, Association for Local Governance of India, organised a meeting of several such head-persons from the weaker sections, other honest pradhans and those who were willing to raise their voices against irregularities. What emerged from the several interesting and educative experiences narrated by these village head-persons was that while there was still room for persons of outstanding ability and determination to fight the corrupt system (with some help from voluntary organisations and the media) on the whole corrupt practices were extremely well-entrenched.<br />Is anyone even seriously trying to fight this widely pervasive corruption? There is at least some evidence that several politicians, officials and businessmen are actually quite happy with it. In Uttarakhand, largescale dam construction work involving massive corruption proceeded at a brisk pace because village level clearances from pradhans could be obtained using corrupt practices in most places. If the existence of a corrupt system enables powerful forces to have their sway over vast rural areas, why should they bother about checking corruption (beyond lip-sympathy)? Also, it is most likely that a significant part of the massive leakages from development funds and other corrupt deals reaches the upper layers of the power structure as well.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >It is uncomfortable truths like this which are all too often brushed aside and buried under the carpet at official functions. The prevailing corrupt political and economic system finds it easier to live with a corrupt panchayat raj. It is easier for the powerful to work through a corrupt panchayat raj system as this allows them enough space to extend their sway over more and more rural communities for a small price.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >As social activist Aruna Roy says, &ldquo;After all, panchayats too are a power structure. True decentralisation means moving beyond this and reaching all villagers.&rdquo; This is why the institution of gram sabha or the assembly of all villagers is so important. Increasingly, the success of panchayat raj will be judged now by the extent to which the gram sabha or the entire village community is being strengthened and empowered. The real challenge is to try to ensure that most villagers, particularly the weaker sections and women, participate actively in the gram sabha and then to ensure that what the gram sabha says and its will cannot be ignored at the panchayat and higher levels. This is how the village community will be democratised and strengthened. And once the villages are awake, only then will pressure build to bring genuine decentralisation and allocate more and more functions and powers (and resources to go with them) to village communities.</font></p>                                                           
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    <br><a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893" class="re" target="_blank">The Statesman, 29 September, 2009, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893</a><div class="clear"></div>
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    <h1 class="cat-box-title">Strengthening panchayat raj</h1>
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		 Published on</span><span class="text-date"> Sep 29, 2009</span>
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                            <p align="justify"><font >INDIA&rsquo;S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very important weaknesses in our panchayat raj institutions. True, some states have notable achievements to their credit in this respect, but taking an overview of the national situation it can be clearly stated that the objectives of genuine decentralisation and taking grassroots democracy to the doors of the poorest and the most neglected have not been realised yet.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Some of the area-specific weaknesses of panchayat raj, which have been making news recently, are obvious enough. In Jharkhand, panchayat elections have simply not been held so far, a serious violation of important constitutional obligations. It may be true that there have been a few complications here and some litigations there, but surely the constitutional obligation to hold panchayat elections should override the relatively smaller considerations that should have been sorted out by the state government long ago.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >In Jharkhand and in other states having Scheduled (tribal) areas, it appears that there is a particular reluctance to implement the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area legislation which, if properly implemented, can be a great help in reducing displacement, destructive mining practices, alcoholism and other problems. In Goa, efforts appear to have started to further dilute even the limited decentralisation that has taken place so far.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Beyond these area-specific issues, however, perhaps the most pervasive problem is corruption. Although the situation can differ in various states to some extent, on the whole it is a very widespread phenomenon that substantial &ldquo;commissions&rdquo; play an important role in the smooth transfer of development funds to villages. Once commissions have been paid to officials, the accounting starts with false entries, the elected village head-person (call him sarpanch, pradhan or any other local name) says, more often than not, that &ldquo;now I&rsquo;ll take my share, partly to cover my election expenses and partly to earn something extra&rdquo;. By the time all the entrenched vested interests have satiated their appetites, almost half the development funds may be lost.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >On the other hand, the honest head-persons find it is increasingly difficult to get their funds or to get their schemes approved. I knew a Dalit pradhan in Saharanpur district who was so famous for his honesty that the entire village celebrated when he was elected. But when all his honesty (and his refusal to compromise) failed to get any development funds for his village, people who had supported him so much grew restless with him. He died a broken man.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >Many pradhans from weaker sections never get a fair chance to function in a free and democratic manner by the most influential and powerful persons in the village. There have been cases where these pradhans from weaker sections who tried to assert themselves have been harassed endlessly, attacked or even killed by local powerful persons and mafias.<br />Recently, a Delhi-based organisation, Association for Local Governance of India, organised a meeting of several such head-persons from the weaker sections, other honest pradhans and those who were willing to raise their voices against irregularities. What emerged from the several interesting and educative experiences narrated by these village head-persons was that while there was still room for persons of outstanding ability and determination to fight the corrupt system (with some help from voluntary organisations and the media) on the whole corrupt practices were extremely well-entrenched.<br />Is anyone even seriously trying to fight this widely pervasive corruption? There is at least some evidence that several politicians, officials and businessmen are actually quite happy with it. In Uttarakhand, largescale dam construction work involving massive corruption proceeded at a brisk pace because village level clearances from pradhans could be obtained using corrupt practices in most places. If the existence of a corrupt system enables powerful forces to have their sway over vast rural areas, why should they bother about checking corruption (beyond lip-sympathy)? Also, it is most likely that a significant part of the massive leakages from development funds and other corrupt deals reaches the upper layers of the power structure as well.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >It is uncomfortable truths like this which are all too often brushed aside and buried under the carpet at official functions. The prevailing corrupt political and economic system finds it easier to live with a corrupt panchayat raj. It is easier for the powerful to work through a corrupt panchayat raj system as this allows them enough space to extend their sway over more and more rural communities for a small price.</font></p><p align="justify"><font >As social activist Aruna Roy says, &ldquo;After all, panchayats too are a power structure. True decentralisation means moving beyond this and reaching all villagers.&rdquo; This is why the institution of gram sabha or the assembly of all villagers is so important. Increasingly, the success of panchayat raj will be judged now by the extent to which the gram sabha or the entire village community is being strengthened and empowered. The real challenge is to try to ensure that most villagers, particularly the weaker sections and women, participate actively in the gram sabha and then to ensure that what the gram sabha says and its will cannot be ignored at the panchayat and higher levels. This is how the village community will be democratised and strengthened. And once the villages are awake, only then will pressure build to bring genuine decentralisation and allocate more and more functions and powers (and resources to go with them) to village communities.</font></p>                                                           
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    <br><a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893" class="re" target="_blank">The Statesman, 29 September, 2009, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893</a><div class="clear"></div>
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Home हिन्दी

Strengthening panchayat raj

Published on Sep 29, 2009   Modified on Sep 29, 2009

INDIA’S achievement in setting up a huge structure of local self-government institutions has won worldwide recognition and respect. However, the massive numbers of rural self-government or panchayat raj representatives should not be allowed to obscure the reality of some very important weaknesses in our panchayat raj institutions. True, some states have notable achievements to their credit in this respect, but taking an overview of the national situation it can be clearly stated that the objectives of genuine decentralisation and taking grassroots democracy to the doors of the poorest and the most neglected have not been realised yet. Some of the area-specific weaknesses of panchayat raj, which have been making news recently, are obvious enough. In Jharkhand, panchayat elections have simply not been held so far, a serious violation of important constitutional obligations. It may be true that there have been a few complications here and some litigations there, but surely the constitutional obligation to hold panchayat elections should override the relatively smaller considerations that should have been sorted out by the state government long ago. In Jharkhand and in other states having Scheduled (tribal) areas, it appears that there is a particular reluctance to implement the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area legislation which, if properly implemented, can be a great help in reducing displacement, destructive mining practices, alcoholism and other problems. In Goa, efforts appear to have started to further dilute even the limited decentralisation that has taken place so far. Beyond these area-specific issues, however, perhaps the most pervasive problem is corruption. Although the situation can differ in various states to some extent, on the whole it is a very widespread phenomenon that substantial “commissions” play an important role in the smooth transfer of development funds to villages. Once commissions have been paid to officials, the accounting starts with false entries, the elected village head-person (call him sarpanch, pradhan or any other local name) says, more often than not, that “now I’ll take my share, partly to cover my election expenses and partly to earn something extra”. By the time all the entrenched vested interests have satiated their appetites, almost half the development funds may be lost. On the other hand, the honest head-persons find it is increasingly difficult to get their funds or to get their schemes approved. I knew a Dalit pradhan in Saharanpur district who was so famous for his honesty that the entire village celebrated when he was elected. But when all his honesty (and his refusal to compromise) failed to get any development funds for his village, people who had supported him so much grew restless with him. He died a broken man. Many pradhans from weaker sections never get a fair chance to function in a free and democratic manner by the most influential and powerful persons in the village. There have been cases where these pradhans from weaker sections who tried to assert themselves have been harassed endlessly, attacked or even killed by local powerful persons and mafias. Recently, a Delhi-based organisation, Association for Local Governance of India, organised a meeting of several such head-persons from the weaker sections, other honest pradhans and those who were willing to raise their voices against irregularities. What emerged from the several interesting and educative experiences narrated by these village head-persons was that while there was still room for persons of outstanding ability and determination to fight the corrupt system (with some help from voluntary organisations and the media) on the whole corrupt practices were extremely well-entrenched. Is anyone even seriously trying to fight this widely pervasive corruption? There is at least some evidence that several politicians, officials and businessmen are actually quite happy with it. In Uttarakhand, largescale dam construction work involving massive corruption proceeded at a brisk pace because village level clearances from pradhans could be obtained using corrupt practices in most places. If the existence of a corrupt system enables powerful forces to have their sway over vast rural areas, why should they bother about checking corruption (beyond lip-sympathy)? Also, it is most likely that a significant part of the massive leakages from development funds and other corrupt deals reaches the upper layers of the power structure as well. It is uncomfortable truths like this which are all too often brushed aside and buried under the carpet at official functions. The prevailing corrupt political and economic system finds it easier to live with a corrupt panchayat raj. It is easier for the powerful to work through a corrupt panchayat raj system as this allows them enough space to extend their sway over more and more rural communities for a small price. As social activist Aruna Roy says, “After all, panchayats too are a power structure. True decentralisation means moving beyond this and reaching all villagers.” This is why the institution of gram sabha or the assembly of all villagers is so important. Increasingly, the success of panchayat raj will be judged now by the extent to which the gram sabha or the entire village community is being strengthened and empowered. The real challenge is to try to ensure that most villagers, particularly the weaker sections and women, participate actively in the gram sabha and then to ensure that what the gram sabha says and its will cannot be ignored at the panchayat and higher levels. This is how the village community will be democratised and strengthened. And once the villages are awake, only then will pressure build to bring genuine decentralisation and allocate more and more functions and powers (and resources to go with them) to village communities.

The Statesman, 29 September, 2009, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=269893

 

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