Propensity to centralize has been the dominant feature of our administration. We need to truly redesign government on the basis of the principle of subsidiary.

A task which can be performed by a small unit should never be entrusted to a large unit. Only when economies of scale and technical complexity demand entrustment to the larger tier should it is done so.

All the financial devolution and personnel transfer should match functional domain determined on this basis. Only then will they see the link between his vote and public good, and monies can be traced to services delivered, structure of local governments envisaged in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments is now place, but the soul of self-governance and empowerment is largely missing.

As a result of the econ reform process, the states have come into their own, and yet the Union has in recent years disco a more meaningful and strategic role for itself. Similarly, local government empowerment need mean weakening of states. States must be enabled to discover their vital role in providing start inputs and leadership even as local governments deliver most of the basic services.

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Wherever community of stakeholders can be clearly identified, responsibility for services must be transferred them, so that the stakeholders wield authority and are directly in control of their lives.