Local Self Governance

This course aims to strengthen understanding on the concepts and principles of decentralisation and the fundamentals underlying local self governing institutions. PRIA’s experience of 30 years in the area of Governance indicates that strengthening the local self governing institutions and empowering the people on local government is a responsible task. So here an attempt is made to establish and explain the need for local self governance and decentralisation and the challenges faced by them. This course will look at the constitutional mandate, statutory provisions and functional organisation related to local self governing institutions taking India as an example to explain the concept. Reference would also be made to the financial status of local bodies, decentralised planning as a method and the accountability mechanisms used in local self governing institutions.

Who can join?

This six month course is designed for practitioners, adult educators, managers (staff of international and national voluntary development organisations, bi-lateral and multi-lateral development agencies, government departments), researchers and policy makers from countries of the South, who are currently engaged in or interested to learn about local self governance.

It will provide an in-service career opportunity for practitioners. The participants can be mid career professionals or young professionals, with some practical experience of being engaged in the process of social change.

Special features

	This innovative course is one of its kind, at the national, regional and international level, in a distance education mode
	It will give a brief overview of the concept of decentralized governance and why there has been a massive shift towards it, both in the rural and the urban areas across the globe
	It draws together theory and practice on local self governance through field case studies and practical illustrations
	The course material is specially designed and developed to meet special requirements of distance mode of education. It includes inbuilt exercises, in-text questions to stimulate critical thinking and analysis
	The entire course will be taken by distance education, making learning accessible outside working hours. Distance delivery includes downloading the course material through moodle and participating in discussions facilitated by an instructor
	To encourage maximum interaction between the instructor and the learners a PRIA moodle has been developed wherein the students can post their queries, comments, suggestions, and experiences and participate in the online but asynchronous discussions. The students can also access the tutor through emails

Course structure

This course aims to stimulate students' interest in local self governance and to provide them with the basic background information and tools to build on their knowledge

To meet the above goal, the course content is divided into six Units:

Unit 1 : Relevance and importance of Local Self Governance in large representative oriented democracies (Basic framework for participation in Governance)

	Urban Rural Continuum viz a viz specialized challenges in larger metros
	Complexities and multiplicity of departments and institutions in Governance ( both Rural and Urban)
	Relevance and importance of Local Governance

Unit 2 : Constitutional Mandate, Statutory Provisions and Functional Organization of Local Governance Institutions

	Historical perspective
	International trends
	Constitutional mandate
	Gram Sabha, Ward Committee and Mohalla Samities
	Key statutory provisions ( Election, Organization , Positions, Functions)
	Adaptation in different states and regions

Unit 3 : Financial Status of Local Bodies

	Finance Commission and financial devolution
	Taxation and challenges in levying taxes( experiences from different states)
	Schematic funding in local bodies
	Changing Financial scenario-borrowings( particularly in municipalities)
	Financial autonomy and challenges in financial management
	Scope of citizen participation in financial management

Unit 4 : Decentralised Planning - Methods, outcomes and challenges

	Decentralised planning in India
	Institutions and agencies in planning
	Current trends in planning (city development plan, district planning, BRGF, MNREGS five year prospective planning)
	Participatory Planning-Making a development plan( Data collection, priority setting, finalization of plan ,implementation)
	Poverty and poverty pockets
	Social justice, equity and participation of the marginalized in planning

Unit 5 : Accountability in Local Bodies

	State’s Instruments of Accountability (audit reports, citizen charters etc.)
	RTI –Provisions, Practice and Challenges
	Social Audits ( Statutory provisions in MNREGS,BSUP-JNNURM)
	Popular Instruments for Improving Accountability - report cards, physical verification etc

Unit 6 : Capacities Deficiencies and Interventions

	Capacity needs and challenges facing the local bodies
	Capacity building interventions from State and Civil Society ( different intuitions like SIRD, state academies and civil society interventions)
	Dalit, Tribal and Women Leadership in Local bodies (provisions, challenges and positive examples)

Learning objectives

On completion of the course the learners would:

	Understand the meaning of the term ‘local self governance’ and begin to appreciate its relevance in development
	Comprehend the forms of decentralization and the forces driving it
	Gain familiarity with decentralization in urban India and outline the challenges in urban management especially in India
	Understand the constitutional provision and broad legal framework under which the local governance institutions are supposed to operate
	Analyse the status of devolution of functions, finances and functionaries
	Understand the challenges in local administration in terms of human, financial and statutory powers available to Local Government Institution

Course Authors

Kumar, Shrdha, SAMARTHAN – Centre for Development Support

Admission procedure

	Eligibility :The minimum required qualification is Bachelor's degree in any subject
	Mode of delivery : The course is offered in a distance mode, making learning accessible through part time study, outside working hours. Distance delivery includes immediate and engaged communication through moodle
	Duration :The course is of 6 months duration
	Medium of instruction : The course will be delivered in English
	Evaluation : Evaluation will be based on written assignments in the form of reflection papers, quiz and project work/ project proposal or an essay
	Course fee: The course fee is Rs.7500/- for applicants in India or 300 US$ for applicants outside India. For Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka the fee is INR 8500/-payable in one installment
	Payment of fee : The fee is to be paid in Demand Draft drawn in favour of "Society for Participatory Research in Asia", payable at New Delhi. The fee can also be paid through Bank Transfer.
	Application Deadline :The last date for registration is 23rd March 2012 (first come first serve basis). You can download the application form from the website or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to obtain the same. Filled in application form should be sent along with a self attested scanned copy of the graduation certificate to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Quick Contact

Required *