Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India, Tirupati Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperambudur Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru Date: 3.8.2017. Dear Members of Slide Share, Greetings from AGRASRI, Tirupati. I am very glad to inform all the Members of the Slide Share that the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), a registered research foundation, being headquartered at Tirupati, is organising the National Seminar on '25 Years of Panchayati Raj Institutions Reforms in India (Post-73rd Constitutional Amendment Act): Experiments, Experiences and Challenges', on 19 and 20 August, 2017 at Hotel Bliss, Tirupati, in joint collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperambudur and Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru. In this connection, I cordially invites the interested Members of the Decentralisation Community to participate in the National Seminar as Delegates in any one of the Technical Sessions and present paper/views on '25 Years Panchayati Raj Institutions Reforms in India after 73rd CAA'. I am herewith appending a brief Concept Note on the National Seminar for the reference. With warm regards, Your sincerely, Dr. D. Sundar Ram Founder, AGRASRI Encl: 1. Concept Note - National Seminar on 25 Years of PRI's Reforms in India.

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National Seminar on
25 YEARS PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS REFORMS IN INDIA
(Post-73rd Constitutional Amendment Act) : Experiments, Experiences and Challenges
19 and 20 August, 2017 - Tirupati, AP
Organised by:
Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India, Tirupati, AP
In Collaboration with:
Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperambudur, Tamil Nadu
Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Inviting Papers for the National Seminar on PRI’s
CONCEPT NOTE
The Panchayati Raj Institutions, a quintessence of grassroots democracy in India, comprising about
32 lakh elected representatives with more than 10 lakh women elected members, as grassroots policy
makers, is the largest people’s representative democratic system in the world. It plays a crucial role in the
inclusive growth through inclusive governance for national development in contemporary India. The 73rd
Amendment Act to the Indian Constitution has initiated a fundamental restructuring of governance and
administrative system of India, based on the philosophy of decentralisation and power to the people at the
grassroots level. The enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1993 and the subsequent State-
wise Panchayati Raj Acts in India has brought to frontline significance of grassroots democratic processes.
Thanks entirely to the tireless efforts and visionary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi that the ‘Power to the People’ at the
grassroots alone ensures inclusive governance which is essential for inclusive economic growth in
contemporary India.
After almost 25 years of journey, Panchayati Raj system in India has been a matter of debate and
speculation about its performance and impact, as Constitutional Bodies for delivering good governance at the
grassroots level. The Panchayati Raj system has begun to change the grammar of politics in India since 1952
on wards. The empowerment of historically disadvantaged groups like Women, SCs & STs in the PRIs has
gone a long way to deepen democracy.
All the major states have completed at least four rounds of panchayat elections. If we can analyse the
holistic Panchayati Raj system in contemporary India, it is fact that the performance of majority of PRI’s
(barring a few exceptions) has been poor and below expectations of the people. The spirit of participatory
decentralised governance has not developed to the desired levels. Instead, we find authoritative governance
visible in the functioning of PRIs. One really thinks that why is there a mockery of devolution and
decentralisation? Why are Panchayats deliberately being kept handicapped by majority of State and Central
Governments, as true Constitutional Bodies in Rural India? How do we move forward and facilitate true
representation – descriptive, substantive, and transformative? The time has come for more meaningful action
by the respective State and Union Governments in strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions as
Constitutional bodies by way of formulating another Generation of Reforms.
The present National Seminar on the aforesaid theme is an attempt to bring together social and
development functionaries working in different capacities in PRI’s (policy makers, administrators,
academicians, NGO’s, elected representatives of PRI’s) from across the country. The purpose of the National
Seminar is to map the spectrum of new vision for genuine Panchayati Raj Institutions, with full pledged
devolution of functions, finances and functionaries in delivering good governance at the grassroots level.
The deliberations would help incubate ideas and identify areas that need research and action further
on PRI’s. Ultimately National Seminar purpose is to facilitate judicious local decision-making through
concrete policy and implementation suggestions for ‘Power to the People’ at the grassroots level.
 OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the National Seminar are as follows:
a. To review the policy reforms agenda of the Union as well as various State Governments towards the
Panchayati Raj Institutions in India after 25 Years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act;
b. To examine the status and position of the devolution of 3 F’s- Functions, Finances and Functionaries-
to the Panchayati Raj Institutions, for inclusive growth through inclusive governance in India;

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c. To identify and analyse the achievements and challenges out of the democratic decentralisation in
contemporary India over a period of 25 years;
d. To explore the level of people’s participation in the formulation of micro-planning and decision-
making process at the grassroots level in delivering good governance;
e. To analyse the key obstacles/barriers in the Growth of Panchayati Raj Institutions in contemporary
India;
f. To suggest the reforms agenda leading to successful working of Panchayati Raj Institutions, as true
Constitutional Bodies in contemporary India.
 SUB-THEMES
To find out the ways and means in strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India as per the
provisions of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act further, the main theme of the National Seminar comprises
of the following sub-themes:
Panel-I: 25 Years Reforms Agenda towards Panchayati Raj Institutions as Constitutional Bodies by
the Union and State Governments: Analysis and Review;
Panel-II: Devolution of 3 F’s- Finances, Functions and Functionaries-to the Panchayati Raj
Institutions in India: Status and Position;
Panel-III: Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility and Capability by the Elected Representatives
of Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Way Forward for Inclusive Governance in India;
Panel-IV: Document Success Stories and Strategy for Replication.
Panel-V: Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: Agents for Transformative Politics in India.
 TIME AND VENUE
The National Seminar will be held at the Hotel Bliss, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on 19 and 20
August, 2017. The Inaugural Session will start at 10.00 a.m in the morning of 19 August and end till 4.30
p.m. in the evening of 20 August, besides 5 Technical Sessions and Valedictory Session. The 15th Rajiv
Gandhi Memorial Lecture and conferment of the Rajiv Gandhi Outstanding Leadership, Mahila Shakti,
Yuva Shakti, Best District, Best Taluk, Best Gram Panchayat and Gram Swaraj National Awards will be
held exclusively on 20th August, 2017 at 5.00 p.m. in Hotel Bliss (Diamond Hall), Tirupati.
 CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers on the main theme and sub-themes of the National Seminar are invited from policy makers,
civil servants, parliamentarians, legislators, academicians, elected representatives of PRI’s, NGO
functionaries, and grassroots women leaders. Abstracts not exceeding 1 page in length can be
communicated to us on any of the above sub-themes. All abstracts should reach us on or 5th August, 2017.
Abstracts can be sent as E-mail attachment or can be mailed to the address given at the end. The length
paper (15-20 pages), neatly typed in double space in MS Word using 12 points Times New Roman font size,
should reach us on or before 14th August, 2017. The proceedings of the National Seminar would be
published, as Thematic Issue of The Grassroots Governance Journal (ISSN: 0973-0257), an official bi-
annual research publication of the Academy.
Selected Paper Contributors/Resource Persons are provided a modest hospitality (Accommodation,
Working Lunch, High Tea and Dinner) at Tirupati, on 19 and 20 August, 2017. The Resource Persons are
humbly requested to meet their Travelling Expenses from their parent organisations/departments, since the
organisers having limited financial resources for the National Seminar.
Delegates and Participants are requested to pay the requisite Delegation Fee to the organisers. For
Registration details, please contact Dr. D. Sundar Ram, Seminar Director, AGRASRI, Tirupati at E.mail:
drsundarram@gmail.com or Mobile: 09441245085.
 LOCATION
Tirupati, a world renowned Hindu pilgrim centre, is located in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh
State. It is 13 Kms from Renigunta Railway Station and 2 Kms from Tirupati Railway Station. Renigunta
Airport is the nearest Airport; it is 15 Kms from Tirupati city. The Airports of Bangalore and Chennai are
situated 130 Kms and 250 Kms away from Tirupati city.
 ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO BE ADDRESSED TO:
Dr. D. Sundar Ram
Seminar Director
Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India
# Plot No.11, Sri Venkata Sai Nilayam
Thummalagunta, S. V. University P.O.
TIRUPATI-517502, Andhra Pradesh.
Telefax: 0877-2244777 Mobile: 09441245085
E-mails: drsundarram@gmail.com/agrasridirector@gmail.com
Website: www.agrasri.org.in