Any citizen who is concerned about the nation’s polity will be left aghast that the Prime Minister’s much-touted proclamation of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ has hit a nadir so soon (“Parched Panchayati Raj Ministry on verge of closure”, June 29). The local governance system of panchayati raj has been with us even before Independence. This system was further consolidated by the 73rd amendment of the Constitution which boosted the sociopolitical empowerment of the rural population. But this key legislation has been allowed to fade away. The rural-urban divide is now clearly drawn as the Prime Minister vouches for participative governance in urban spaces but remains silent on the government’s role and stakeholders’ participation in panchayati raj.
C. John Rose,
Arumanai, Tamil Nadu
