The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) signified a pivotal change in India's democratic decentralization by establishing Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and requiring reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The policy structure ensures political representation, however uncertainties persist about the degree to which this representation results in genuine political empowerment. This study analyzes the correlation among reservation, representation, and genuine decision-making authority within Panchayati Raj Institutions in Mandya district, Karnataka. The study analyzes trends in SC/ST representation, leadership roles, participation in Gram Sabhas, and institutional operations utilizing secondary data from government reports, election statistics, Census data, and Karnataka State Panchayat Raj records. The analysis indicates that while descriptive representation has markedly improved in the last thirty years, structural impediments such as elite capture, proxy leadership, socio-economic dependency, and restricted fiscal autonomy persist in hindering substantive empowerment. The study contends that political decentralization should go from mere numerical inclusion to substantive participation and institutional independence. The results enhance discussions regarding decentralization, social fairness, and grassroots democracy in India.
Muniyanna. S. (Sun,) studied this question.
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