Federal Structure and Panchayat Raj
11.1 Considering the size and the diversity in its demography the political structure of India has naturally to be a federal one. The Constitution provides for states with their own elected assemblies and the union of India with its elected Parliament. The list of subjects on which each has jurisdiction has been demarcated as state list, central list and concurrent list. However within the bourgeois rule the trend has continuously been for the centre to transgress on the powers of the states. Laws, rules, taxation systems executive directives, are adopted and issued without reference and consultation with the states. In financial matters the Centre is increasingly appropriating funds and resources while starving the states. Constitutional provisions have been grossly misused to dismiss state governments, to threaten and intimidate them and to hold them in leash. Agencies like the CBI, CVC under central control are also used for similar purposes. All these are at the root of centre-state relations leading to tensions particularly when different political parties are at the helm at the centre and in states. The federal structure is thus being eroded.
11.2 The Party will consistently fight against all such attempts and defend the federal structure of the country's polity for redefining centre-state relations, and for adequate financial resources which will enable the states to undertake genuine development.
11.3 The introduction of the Panchayati Raj has been intended as a measure of democratic decentralisation. Provision of women's reservation in addition to those for SCs/STs and OBCs (including the category of most backward) was meant to empower the basic masses at the grassroot level. But this has been mostly thwarted by the refusal to give adequate flnancial resources and throwing open the departments which have to be administered at that level. In most states with a few hounorable exceptions, the ruling groups have been reluctant to part with powers to the panchayats at the lower levels. The bourgeois ruling class at the Centre has been complicit in circumventing the powers of the panchayats. The omnipresent bureaucracy throughout the country prevents the people's initiatives for enlightened self-rule. Even so the Panchayati Raj has drawn millions of men and women and fired them with the urge for self-rule. The Party and the broad democratic forces have to reckon with this and help it to grow by fighting for more funds and power at the grass root, and against all attempts to curb and limit this through bureaucratic controland intervention. The utmost importance has to be given to this question as it has the potential to broaden the democratic base of the people's movements.
11.1 Considering the size and the diversity in its demography the political structure of India has naturally to be a federal one. The Constitution provides for states with their own elected assemblies and the union of India with its elected Parliament. The list of subjects on which each has jurisdiction has been demarcated as state list, central list and concurrent list. However within the bourgeois rule the trend has continuously been for the centre to transgress on the powers of the states. Laws, rules, taxation systems executive directives, are adopted and issued without reference and consultation with the states. In financial matters the Centre is increasingly appropriating funds and resources while starving the states. Constitutional provisions have been grossly misused to dismiss state governments, to threaten and intimidate them and to hold them in leash. Agencies like the CBI, CVC under central control are also used for similar purposes. All these are at the root of centre-state relations leading to tensions particularly when different political parties are at the helm at the centre and in states. The federal structure is thus being eroded.
11.2 The Party will consistently fight against all such attempts and defend the federal structure of the country's polity for redefining centre-state relations, and for adequate financial resources which will enable the states to undertake genuine development.
11.3 The introduction of the Panchayati Raj has been intended as a measure of democratic decentralisation. Provision of women's reservation in addition to those for SCs/STs and OBCs (including the category of most backward) was meant to empower the basic masses at the grassroot level. But this has been mostly thwarted by the refusal to give adequate flnancial resources and throwing open the departments which have to be administered at that level. In most states with a few hounorable exceptions, the ruling groups have been reluctant to part with powers to the panchayats at the lower levels. The bourgeois ruling class at the Centre has been complicit in circumventing the powers of the panchayats. The omnipresent bureaucracy throughout the country prevents the people's initiatives for enlightened self-rule. Even so the Panchayati Raj has drawn millions of men and women and fired them with the urge for self-rule. The Party and the broad democratic forces have to reckon with this and help it to grow by fighting for more funds and power at the grass root, and against all attempts to curb and limit this through bureaucratic controland intervention. The utmost importance has to be given to this question as it has the potential to broaden the democratic base of the people's movements.
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