PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS OF ASSAM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
AUTHOR – JHORNA BORUAH* & DR. S. JAMES**
* PHD RESEARCH SCHOLAR, DEPARTMENT OF LAW, MANIPUR INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, IMPHAL, MANIPUR-795140, INDIA
** PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF LAW, MANIPUR INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, IMPHAL, MANIPUR-795140, INDIA
BEST CITATION – JHORNA BORUAH & DR. S. JAMES, PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS OF ASSAM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (4) OF 2025, PG. 131-136, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
Abstract
The abstract for the paper titled “Panchayati Raj Institutions of Assam and Sustainable Development: A Critical Analysis” highlights the role of local governance in achieving sustainable development. It emphasizes that sustainable development involves meeting human development goals while preserving natural systems. The paper discusses how the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Assam, established under the Assam Panchayat Act of 1994 following the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, have been entrusted with various developmental functions. These include areas like education, healthcare, sanitation, and resource management.The abstract underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and cooperation within PRIs to ensure effective service delivery and sustainable rural development. It critically analyses the decentralization efforts and their effectiveness in achieving inclusive growth and sustainability in Assam. 1
The study focuses on the Assam Panchayat Act of 1994, introduced after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which established a three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Assam. It discusses how PRIs have been entrusted with responsibilities in areas such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and resource management to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. The abstract also underscores the need for accountability, transparency, and cooperation.
The research identifies several key factors that influence the performance of PRIs, including bureaucratic hurdles, inadequate funding, limited capacity for implementing development programs, and challenges related to local participation. It also highlights the profound impacts of these constraints on sustainable development outcomes in rural communities. Through a review of relevant literature and empirical case studies, the paper illustrates successful initiatives where PRIs have effectively promoted sustainable practices, enhancing the livelihoods of local populations.2
Keywords: Resource, sanitation, rural, sustainability, inclusive,studies,practices.