Gap Between Needs and Resources of Panchayats in India

There is hardly any study conducted to evolve norms and standards for meeting out the basic needs and to assess the physical and financial gaps between the existing level and the required level of identified basic needs at the Gram Panchayat level. Assessment of gap between basic needs and resources is extremely helpful in devolution of funds to Panchayats to meet out their financial requirements at the local level. Without understanding such an exercise, it is difficult for theme to recommend devolution of sufficient resources to the Panchayats. Therefore, the study filled the knowledge gap in the existing literature on the subject. This study, therefore, assesses the gap in the availability and requirements of these basic services and suggests measures to mobilize additional resources for panchayats to enable them to effectively provide these basic services to the rural populace after evolving the standards and norms for these identified basic needs of the villagers. Ways and means have also been suggested for mobilizing financial resources to fill the gap. The book would be useful to researchers, policy makers and, in particular, to rural developers, voluntary organizations and all those engaged in promoting human development and rural development through employment generation and infrastructure development. It will be of special benefit as supplementary reading to Social Sciences departments of universities, institutes of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Training and similar other bodies.