An analysis of service delivery by the local self governments a case study of Thrissur district

Abstract

The Constitutional reforms for Strengthening the Local Self Governments (LSG), the Government of India passed many amendments from 1993 onwards, especially the decentralization process that started after the 73 rd and 74th constitutional amendments. A three tier Panchayati raj system of District, Block, and Village levels is granted constitutional status and the Grama Sabha is recognized as a formal democratic body under the 73 rd Amendment. Before the implementation of the Act, the Grama Panchayats had been performing three types of functions like mandatory, civic, and provision of basic infrastructure. Mandatory functions include functions like the issue of various certificates, registering births and deaths, giving and providing permissions for building construction etc. Civic functions include collecting and disposing of solid waste, cleaning markets, drainage of water and wastewater, constructing and maintaining public toilets, preventing the spread of communicable diseases, etc. It has to provide infrastructure facilities like construction and maintenance of roads, waterways, irrigation, ponds, drinking water supply, electricity etc. New functions like plan implementation, social welfare schemes, and maintenance of assets of some institutions were transferred to LSGIs after the implantation of the two Acts. The study focuses to an analysis the utility services offered by the local self -Government in Thrissur district. The Thrissur District consists of 16 Block Panchayath and 86 auxiliary grama panchayaths, by using a simple random sampling method four block panchayaths are selected i.e, (Chowannur, Pazhayannur, Ollukkara and Chalakkudy). From these four Block Panchayath, three mentioned Grama Panchayaths were selected. In Pazhayannur Block Panchayath (Pazhayannur, Kondazhy, and Chelakkara), Chowannur Block Panachayath (Choondal, Kadavallur and Kadangode) Ollukkara Block Panchayath (Puthur, Kodassery and Nadathara) and Chalakkudy Block Panchayath (Athirappilly, Pariyaram and Varandarappily) were selected. The criteria for selecting these panchayats are, the panchayath has highest number of SC and ST populations, The Panchayath was situated in urban and rural areas also being had been selected. Twenty-five sample beneficiaries were selected from each Grama Panchayats’ total sample size is 300 The first objective of the study was the trend and pattern of the Utility services provided by the Local Self Governments in Kerala. The details of funds allotted by the Thrissur District to various utility schemes such as drinking water schemes, sanitation schemes and Various housing Schemes such as (LIME, PMAY, Suvarna Bhavanam etc). The amount expended for each scheme shows an increasing trend but the amount meeting for required demand was not adequate. The efficiency of the various Housing Schemes delivered by the local Self-Governments in Thrissur District. The Housing Schemes implemented by the grama panchayath are mainly public housing schemes and private housing schemes for the selected beneficiaries. The social or public housing scheme category main developments are the construction of Pakal Veedu, Construction of Vanitha Hostel, the Construction of “she Lodge” and community welfare centers like old age homes and Balika Sadans are fall under the category of public utility housing schemes The sanitation schemes offered by the local self-government are in two ways i.e community sanitation facilities and individual household toilets. One of the markable findings is that even Kerala's economy is experiencing the growth of 2023 developmental and infrastructural experiences 32 % of the total sample respondents has no sanitation facilities. The Local bodies of these areas have failed to provide adequate sanitation facilities. The local self-government had implemented two types of drinking water schemes like community-based and household. The study found that there are various challenges faced by the LSGDs while delivering these services. It includes non availability of Central Grants, Inadequate distribution of fund with respect to the demand, Political intervention, etc. Thus there are many utility services delivered by the Local Self Government to ensure the welfare of the community. But the efficiency of the schemes may want to be improved. The Government should give more attention to the allocation of funds and appropriately monitor the utilisation of funds with the satisfaction of intended objectives. The present study is a micro-level study attempt to analyse the utility services offered by the local self –Government in Kerala. The trend of expenditure incurred by the local self- government is duly measured and various utility services offered by the LSGD are also measured. The main aspects taken for measuring the efficiency of the utility services are Housing Schmes, Sanitation Schemes, and other drinking water schemes are considered. The role of LSGD for economic development is too much widening and it is a multifaceted concept. There may be a variation in spending of government and the needs of the local rural people may vary with time is a further research area. The study reveals that there is a gap between utility services and fund allocation by the respective government. The satisfaction level of the beneficiaries are comparatively low. Political interventions and poor fund allocation and was the root cause of the reduced level of satisfaction.