When the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj presented its ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States’ report in the Lok Sabha, Goa found itself somewhere near the bottom in the general category, taking the 16th position in a pool of 18 States. Goa scored just 37.71 per cent on the Panchayat Devolution Index, well below the national average of 43.9 per cent. For a state that prides itself on high literacy, development and an engaged citizenry, the ranking lays bare the fact that grassroots institutions continue to be sidelined.
A closer look at the report’s six assessment parameters makes the problem even more apparent. Goa’s only bright spot is Capacity Building, where it ranks fourth with a score of 77.27 per cent. The State languishes at the bottom in both Functions (6.63 per cent) and Finances (26.88 per cent), with its Accountability score of 31.75 per cent painting an equally disappointing picture.
The scores highlight the contradiction at the heart of the State’s governance model. Panchayats are seen as the crux of rural development, with representatives trained and equipped with the knowledge to do the needful. However, the sad reality is that they are left with little real authority.
The vision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which sought to establish genuine self-governing local bodies, has been reduced to little more than a procedural obligation. Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats have long sought the transfer of the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule, ranging from primary education and rural roads to public health and land management. Instead, control over these functions remains concentrated within government departments and not panchayats. Even on matters of development and construction, panchayat representatives often find themselves sidelined, with little authority beyond processing paperwork and implementing decisions taken elsewhere.
Equally troubling is the steady erosion of the role of Gram Sabhas. Conceived as the cornerstone of participatory democracy, the Gram Sabhas were meant to give citizens a direct voice in shaping local governance. In practice, however, their resolutions are often treated as recommendations. Residents assemble, debate pressing issues and pass resolutions, only to see them gather dust because there is no legal obligation for the government to act upon them.
There is a striking difference between Goa and some of the States that have embraced decentralisation. Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which top the Panchayat Devolution Index with scores of 72.23 per cent, 70.59 per cent and 68.38 per cent respectively, have shown what empowered local governance can achieve. In Kerala, for instance, local bodies administer a substantial share of the state’s development funds and independently oversee primary healthcare centres, schools and infrastructure projects. The result is development that is more responsive to local needs.
Weakening panchayats weakens communities. When crucial project decisions are made in higher government offices, the panchayat members are left to bear the brunt of people on the ground. Goa has seen umpteen cases where sarpanchas, panchas and secretaries have been caught in a dilemma and claimed helplessness because of their restricted roles.
Goa needs a genuine commitment to decentralisation with more powers delegated to Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats through a clear statutory framework. Financial devolution must follow, with steady grants and avenues to raise local revenue, allowing village bodies to become financially self-reliant. The panchayati system serves little purpose if it is reduced to a mere bureaucratic formality. It is time for Goa to move beyond centralised control and place genuine faith in empowered local self-governance.
