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The Hindu Editorial • July 02, 2026 • Read Original

Yes and no: On the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy

Gram sabhas must have the right to give or withhold consent

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The Hindu Read Original
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Analysis of editorial from The Hindu newspaper on July 02, 2026

Yes and no: On the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy

Gram sabhas must have the right to give or withhold consent

Grassroots DemocracyGram Sabha73rd AmendmentPESA ActPanchayati RajRural Development
Sentences
Sentence 1 of 20
English Original

A new report, based on Rural Development Ministry surveys, opens a rare data-backed window into the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy.

Simple Present S + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
A new report, based on Rural Development Ministry surveys,
A recently published official document that is created using research conducted by the government’s rural department
Verb What is happening
opens
provides or makes available
Object What receives action
a rare data-backed window
an uncommon opportunity to see facts clearly using statistics and evidence rather than assumptions
Adjunct Additional info
into the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy
regarding how local self-governance in Indian villages is slowly being destroyed or weakened
Context and Background
Ministry of Rural Development

The Ministry of Rural Development is a branch of the Government of India responsible for the socio-economic development of rural India. It oversees key national schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and programs aimed at improving rural infrastructure, housing, and livelihood security.

Sentence 2 of 20
English Original

But where the state has framed the issue as one of “vibrancy”, the report highlights a paradox.

Present Perfect & Simple Present Adjunct + Adjunct + S + V + O Main Clause + Subordinate Adverbial Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
But
However / on the other hand
Adjunct Additional info
where the state has framed the issue as one of “vibrancy”
in the situation where the government describes the problem as merely a lack of active participation and energy
Subject Who/What
the report
the document based on Rural Development surveys
Verb What is happening
highlights
draws attention to or points out
Object What receives action
a paradox
a situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
Sentence 3 of 20
English Original

It acknowledges that “participation fatigue” has kept citizens from engaging in gram sabhas whereas its solutions, such as more meetings and oversight, are a recipe to further alienate the rural working class.

Simple Present & Present Perfect S + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Clauses Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
It
The new report from the ministry
Verb What is happening
acknowledges
accepts or admits the truth of something
Object What receives action
that “participation fatigue” has kept citizens from engaging in gram sabhas
the fact that people are tired of attending meetings that do not produce results, which stops them from taking part in village council discussions
Adjunct Additional info
whereas its solutions, such as more meetings and oversight, are a recipe to further alienate the rural working class
while the report’s recommendations (like holding more sessions and checking them strictly) will actually push poor villagers away because they cannot afford to lose work time
Sentence 4 of 20
English Original

The 73rd Amendment empowers gram sabhas, but governments have reduced them to clearinghouses for central and State schemes.

Simple Present & Present Perfect S1 + V1 + O1 + Adjunct + S2 + V2 + O2 + C2 Coordinate Main Clauses Compound Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The 73rd Amendment
The 1992 constitutional change in India that created the modern local village government system
Verb What is happening
empowers
gives legal authority or power to
Object What receives action
gram sabhas
the village councils composed of all local voters
Adjunct Additional info
but
however / on the contrary
Subject Who/What
governments
the state and central political authorities
Verb What is happening
have reduced
have downgraded or lowered in status
Object What receives action
them
the gram sabhas
Complement Completes meaning
to clearinghouses for central and State schemes
into mere agencies whose only job is to approve list of names and allocate funds for programs made in Delhi or state capitals, rather than planning their own work
Context and Background
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act

Passed in 1992 and coming into effect in April 1993, the 73rd Amendment Act added Part IX to the Constitution of India, establishing a uniform three-tier Panchayati Raj system. It constitutionally recognized the Gram Sabha (village assembly) as the foundation of this system, intended to perform functions and exercise powers at the village level as decided by state legislatures, thereby institutionalizing direct democracy at the grassroots.

Sentence 5 of 20
English Original

This fundamental aspect must change.

Simple Present (with Modal) S + V Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
This fundamental aspect
This core practice of reducing local assemblies to mere scheme approvers
Verb What is happening
must change
is required to become different
Sentence 6 of 20
English Original

However, in response to 18%-28% of respondents citing a lack of outcomes as the reason for low interest, the report pushes for greater use of the NIRNAY app and to upload meeting minutes in real-time.

Simple Present Adjunct + Adjunct + S + V + O Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
However,
On the other hand / nevertheless
Adjunct Additional info
in response to 18%-28% of respondents citing a lack of outcomes as the reason for low interest
answering the fact that about one-fourth of surveyed villagers said they do not attend meetings because nothing useful ever happens
Subject Who/What
the report
the government survey document
Verb What is happening
pushes for
demands or strongly recommends
Object What receives action
greater use of the NIRNAY app and to upload meeting minutes in real-time
using the new digital application more, and putting the records of discussions online immediately
Context and Background
Panchayat NIRNAY App

The Panchayat NIRNAY (National Initiative for Rural India to Navigate, InnovAte and Resolve PanchaYat decisions) mobile app is a digital initiative launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Designed under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project, it allows for recording, uploading photos and videos of Gram Sabha proceedings, and tracking resolutions in real-time to bring transparency and resolve disputes regarding local decisions.

Sentence 7 of 20
English Original

In the real world, panchayat secretaries thus have less time facilitating discussion even as lacklustre oversight has allowed officials to tell workers that their MGNREGA demands were ‘not entered in the system’ due to server errors.

Simple Present & Present Perfect Adjunct + S + Adjunct + V + O + C + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Adverbial Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
In the real world,
In practical everyday life on the ground, as opposed to theories or plans
Subject Who/What
panchayat secretaries
the administrative officers responsible for maintaining panchayat records and executing decisions
Adjunct Additional info
thus
therefore / as a result of this digital burden
Verb What is happening
have
possess or hold
Object What receives action
less time
a smaller amount of time than required
Complement Completes meaning
facilitating discussion
helping people talk and share ideas during meetings
Adjunct Additional info
even as lacklustre oversight has allowed officials to tell workers that their MGNREGA demands were ‘not entered in the system’ due to server errors
while at the same time, poor supervision means government officers can easily make excuses to labourers that technical computer problems prevented their employment requests from being saved
Sentence 8 of 20
English Original

Similarly, that more than half of the barriers to participation are related to livelihoods could point as much to visibly systemic issues (such as the precarious nature of rural labour today) as to deliberate economic exclusion by the state, as scholars have highlighted.

Simple Present (with Modal) Adjunct + S + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Clauses Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
Similarly,
In the same way / likewise
Subject Who/What
that more than half of the barriers to participation are related to livelihoods
the fact that over 50 percent of the obstacles stopping citizens from attending meetings are linked to their daily earning needs
Verb What is happening
could point
might indicate or suggest
Object What receives action
as much to visibly systemic issues (such as the precarious nature of rural labour today) as to deliberate economic exclusion by the state,
equally to obvious deep-rooted problems (like how unstable and risky village work has become) and to purposeful actions by the government to keep poor people out of the economy
Adjunct Additional info
as scholars have highlighted
just like academic researchers have pointed out in their studies
Sentence 9 of 20
English Original

But the report does not acknowledge such divergent possibilities.

Simple Present (Negative) Adjunct + S + V + O Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
But
However / nevertheless
Subject Who/What
the report
the study document under discussion
Verb What is happening
does not acknowledge
refuses to recognize or admit
Object What receives action
such divergent possibilities
different and contrasting potential explanations (systemic versus deliberate exclusion)
Sentence 10 of 20
English Original

Due to the state failing to institutionalise attendance as a paid component of social protection, gram sabhas have remained a playground for the leisured elite such as landlords and contractors.

Present Perfect Adjunct + S + V + C Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
Due to the state failing to institutionalise attendance as a paid component of social protection,
because the government did not make attending the village meeting a paid activity (like wage labour) under welfare schemes
Subject Who/What
gram sabhas
the village general body meetings
Verb What is happening
have remained
have continued to be in a particular state
Complement Completes meaning
a playground for the leisured elite such as landlords and contractors
a place dominated and controlled only by wealthy people (like landholders and business operators) who have free time to spare without losing wages
Sentence 11 of 20
English Original

According to the report, gram sabhas spend 13% of the time identifying local issues but only 4% discussing revenue generation.

Simple Present Adjunct + S + V + O1 + C1 + Adjunct + O2 + C2 Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
According to the report,
As stated or documented in the study findings
Subject Who/What
gram sabhas
the village councils
Verb What is happening
spend
use or allocate time for an activity
Object What receives action
13% of the time
about one-eighth of their meeting duration
Complement Completes meaning
identifying local issues
finding and listing the problems faced by the villagers
Adjunct Additional info
but
however / on the contrary
Object What receives action
only 4%
a very small fraction of their meeting duration
Complement Completes meaning
discussing revenue generation
talking about how to earn money locally through taxes or other means to fund village work
Sentence 12 of 20
English Original

But gram panchayats have been systematically constrained from raising their taxes, leaving them dependent on grants.

Present Perfect (Passive) Adjunct + S + V + Adjunct + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Participle Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
But
However / on the other hand
Subject Who/What
gram panchayats
the village-level local governments
Verb What is happening
have been systematically constrained
have been continuously and purposely restricted or limited by higher authorities
Adjunct Additional info
from raising their taxes,
from increasing or collecting local duties from residents
Adjunct Additional info
leaving them dependent on grants
making them rely completely on funds given by central and state governments
Sentence 13 of 20
English Original

The 14th and 15th Finance Commissions grants tied panchayat spending to central priorities such as drinking water and sanitation, limiting local priorities to ‘flagship’ programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat.

Simple Past S + V + O + C + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The 14th and 15th Finance Commissions grants
The financial allocations recommended by India’s 14th and 15th constitutional bodies that decide how tax revenues are divided between central and state governments
Verb What is happening
tied
connected or linked directly, restricting any independent choices
Object What receives action
panchayat spending
how the village councils spend their allocated money
Complement Completes meaning
to central priorities such as drinking water and sanitation,
to the targets set by the central government, specifically clean water supply and public cleanliness systems
Adjunct Additional info
limiting local priorities to ‘flagship’ programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat
forcing the local village planning to focus only on major national welfare campaigns like the clean water initiative and the clean India campaign
Context and Background
Finance Commission & Tied Grants

The Finance Commission of India is a constitutional body established under Article 280 to recommend the division of tax revenues between the Union and the States, and to suggest principles for grants-in-aid to local bodies. In recent years, particularly under the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions, a significant portion of grants to Panchayats was classified as ‘tied grants,’ meaning the funds could only be spent on specific sectors mandated by the Centre, notably drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and sanitation, which critics argue undermines local self-governance.

Sentence 14 of 20
English Original

There is thus no incentive for citizens to attend a meeting if the funds are being earmarked by Delhi bureaucrats.

Simple Present V + Adjunct + S + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Conditional Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Verb What is happening
There is
exists
Adjunct Additional info
thus
therefore / as a consequence
Subject Who/What
no incentive for citizens to attend a meeting
no motivation or benefit for villagers to spend their day sitting in assembly sessions
Adjunct Additional info
if the funds are being earmarked by Delhi bureaucrats
in the event that all the expenditures and money are already decided and locked by government administrators in the national capital
Sentence 15 of 20
English Original

The report also states that Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act areas have “reasonably strong physical infrastructure”.

Simple Present S + Adjunct + V + O Main Clause + Subordinate Noun Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The report
the research paper on rural governance
Adjunct Additional info
also
in addition / furthermore
Verb What is happening
states
expresses or writes formally
Object What receives action
that Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act areas have “reasonably strong physical infrastructure”
the fact that the tribal districts covered by the PESA law possess fairly good roads, buildings, and facilities
Context and Background
PESA Act, 1996

The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) is a central legislation that extends the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution (relating to Panchayats) to the Fifth Schedule Areas (tribal-dominated areas in ten states). It recognizes the traditional rights of tribal communities over local resources and mandates that Gram Sabhas must have veto power and control over major decisions, including land acquisition, mineral prospecting, and management of minor forest produce.

Sentence 16 of 20
English Original

Under the PESA Act 1996 and related forest rights laws, gram sabhas have the right to provide prior informed consent for land acquisition and mining.

Simple Present Adjunct + S + V + O Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
Under the PESA Act 1996 and related forest rights laws,
according to the legal provisions of the 1996 tribal self-governance act and forest protection rules
Subject Who/What
gram sabhas
the local tribal village assemblies
Verb What is happening
have
possess or hold
Object What receives action
the right to provide prior informed consent for land acquisition and mining
the legal power to agree or disagree beforehand to any government plans to take their land or start digging for minerals
Sentence 17 of 20
English Original

However, the state routinely bypasses them or uses the excuse of low participation to manufacture consent.

Simple Present Adjunct + S + V1 + O1 + Adjunct + V2 + O2 + Adjunct Coordinate Main Clauses Compound Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
However,
On the other hand / nevertheless
Subject Who/What
the state
the government authorities and administrators
Verb What is happening
routinely bypasses
regularly ignores or avoids dealing with the assemblies
Object What receives action
them
the gram sabhas
Adjunct Additional info
or
alternatively
Verb What is happening
uses
makes use of or employs
Object What receives action
the excuse of low participation
the pretext that not enough villagers attended the meetings
Adjunct Additional info
to manufacture consent
to artificially create the appearance of agreement or approval, often through manipulation or forgery
Sentence 18 of 20
English Original

The Hasdeo Arand protests were rooted in this issue.

Simple Past (Passive) S + V + Adjunct Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The Hasdeo Arand protests
The long-standing environmental and indigenous tribal demonstrations against coal mining clearances in the Hasdeo forest region of Chhattisgarh
Verb What is happening
were rooted
had their origin or cause
Adjunct Additional info
in this issue
in this exact problem of bypassing local village assembly approval
Context and Background
Hasdeo Arand Protests

Hasdeo Arand is one of the largest intact forest stretches in Central India, located in Chhattisgarh. It is home to diverse biodiversity and indigenous Gond tribal communities. The region has witnessed intense protests by local Gram Sabhas and environmental activists against coal block allocations and mining projects. The protests are rooted in allegations that mining clearances were obtained by forging Gram Sabha consent resolutions, thereby violating PESA and Forest Rights Act laws.

Sentence 19 of 20
English Original

There is a right to say ‘no’ and the state simply needs to acknowledge it.

Simple Present V1 + S1 + Adjunct + S2 + Adjunct + V2 + O2 Coordinate Main Clauses Compound Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Verb What is happening
There is
exists
Subject Who/What
a right to say ‘no’
the legal and moral entitlement of local communities to refuse consent for projects affecting their lands
Adjunct Additional info
and
furthermore / in addition
Subject Who/What
the state
the government
Adjunct Additional info
simply
merely / without making complications
Verb What is happening
needs
requires or is obligated
Object What receives action
to acknowledge it
to recognize and respect this veto power
Sentence 20 of 20
English Original

If ‘yes’ must be the only answer, the report’s grouses are a farce.

Simple Present Adjunct + S + V + C Main Clause + Subordinate Conditional Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
If ‘yes’ must be the only answer,
in the event that the government expects the village councils to always agree and never reject projects
Subject Who/What
the report’s grouses
the complaints and concerns raised in the ministry’s document about low participation
Verb What is happening
are
exist as
Complement Completes meaning
a farce
a ridiculous sham or mockery, lacking any real meaning or sincerity
Sentence 1 of 20
Sentence 1 of 20
A new report, based on Rural Development Ministry surveys, opens a rare data-backed window into the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
A new report, based on Rural Development Ministry surveys,
A recently published official document that is created using research conducted by the government’s rural department
Verb
opens
provides or makes available
Object
a rare data-backed window
an uncommon opportunity to see facts clearly using statistics and evidence rather than assumptions
Adjunct
into the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy
regarding how local self-governance in Indian villages is slowly being destroyed or weakened
Sentence 2 of 20
But where the state has framed the issue as one of “vibrancy”, the report highlights a paradox.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
But
However / on the other hand
Adjunct
where the state has framed the issue as one of “vibrancy”
in the situation where the government describes the problem as merely a lack of active participation and energy
Subject
the report
the document based on Rural Development surveys
Verb
highlights
draws attention to or points out
Object
a paradox
a situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
Sentence 3 of 20
It acknowledges that “participation fatigue” has kept citizens from engaging in gram sabhas whereas its solutions, such as more meetings and oversight, are a recipe to further alienate the rural working class.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
It
The new report from the ministry
Verb
acknowledges
accepts or admits the truth of something
Object
that “participation fatigue” has kept citizens from engaging in gram sabhas
the fact that people are tired of attending meetings that do not produce results, which stops them from taking part in village council discussions
Adjunct
whereas its solutions, such as more meetings and oversight, are a recipe to further alienate the rural working class
while the report’s recommendations (like holding more sessions and checking them strictly) will actually push poor villagers away because they cannot afford to lose work time
Sentence 4 of 20
The 73rd Amendment empowers gram sabhas, but governments have reduced them to clearinghouses for central and State schemes.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The 73rd Amendment
The 1992 constitutional change in India that created the modern local village government system
Verb
empowers
gives legal authority or power to
Object
gram sabhas
the village councils composed of all local voters
Adjunct
but
however / on the contrary
Subject
governments
the state and central political authorities
Verb
have reduced
have downgraded or lowered in status
Object
them
the gram sabhas
Complement
to clearinghouses for central and State schemes
into mere agencies whose only job is to approve list of names and allocate funds for programs made in Delhi or state capitals, rather than planning their own work
Sentence 5 of 20
This fundamental aspect must change.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
This fundamental aspect
This core practice of reducing local assemblies to mere scheme approvers
Verb
must change
is required to become different
Sentence 6 of 20
However, in response to 18%-28% of respondents citing a lack of outcomes as the reason for low interest, the report pushes for greater use of the NIRNAY app and to upload meeting minutes in real-time.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
However,
On the other hand / nevertheless
Adjunct
in response to 18%-28% of respondents citing a lack of outcomes as the reason for low interest
answering the fact that about one-fourth of surveyed villagers said they do not attend meetings because nothing useful ever happens
Subject
the report
the government survey document
Verb
pushes for
demands or strongly recommends
Object
greater use of the NIRNAY app and to upload meeting minutes in real-time
using the new digital application more, and putting the records of discussions online immediately
Sentence 7 of 20
In the real world, panchayat secretaries thus have less time facilitating discussion even as lacklustre oversight has allowed officials to tell workers that their MGNREGA demands were ‘not entered in the system’ due to server errors.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
In the real world,
In practical everyday life on the ground, as opposed to theories or plans
Subject
panchayat secretaries
the administrative officers responsible for maintaining panchayat records and executing decisions
Adjunct
thus
therefore / as a result of this digital burden
Verb
have
possess or hold
Object
less time
a smaller amount of time than required
Complement
facilitating discussion
helping people talk and share ideas during meetings
Adjunct
even as lacklustre oversight has allowed officials to tell workers that their MGNREGA demands were ‘not entered in the system’ due to server errors
while at the same time, poor supervision means government officers can easily make excuses to labourers that technical computer problems prevented their employment requests from being saved
Sentence 8 of 20
Similarly, that more than half of the barriers to participation are related to livelihoods could point as much to visibly systemic issues (such as the precarious nature of rural labour today) as to deliberate economic exclusion by the state, as scholars have highlighted.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
Similarly,
In the same way / likewise
Subject
that more than half of the barriers to participation are related to livelihoods
the fact that over 50 percent of the obstacles stopping citizens from attending meetings are linked to their daily earning needs
Verb
could point
might indicate or suggest
Object
as much to visibly systemic issues (such as the precarious nature of rural labour today) as to deliberate economic exclusion by the state,
equally to obvious deep-rooted problems (like how unstable and risky village work has become) and to purposeful actions by the government to keep poor people out of the economy
Adjunct
as scholars have highlighted
just like academic researchers have pointed out in their studies
Sentence 9 of 20
But the report does not acknowledge such divergent possibilities.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
But
However / nevertheless
Subject
the report
the study document under discussion
Verb
does not acknowledge
refuses to recognize or admit
Object
such divergent possibilities
different and contrasting potential explanations (systemic versus deliberate exclusion)
Sentence 10 of 20
Due to the state failing to institutionalise attendance as a paid component of social protection, gram sabhas have remained a playground for the leisured elite such as landlords and contractors.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
Due to the state failing to institutionalise attendance as a paid component of social protection,
because the government did not make attending the village meeting a paid activity (like wage labour) under welfare schemes
Subject
gram sabhas
the village general body meetings
Verb
have remained
have continued to be in a particular state
Complement
a playground for the leisured elite such as landlords and contractors
a place dominated and controlled only by wealthy people (like landholders and business operators) who have free time to spare without losing wages
Sentence 11 of 20
According to the report, gram sabhas spend 13% of the time identifying local issues but only 4% discussing revenue generation.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
According to the report,
As stated or documented in the study findings
Subject
gram sabhas
the village councils
Verb
spend
use or allocate time for an activity
Object
13% of the time
about one-eighth of their meeting duration
Complement
identifying local issues
finding and listing the problems faced by the villagers
Adjunct
but
however / on the contrary
Object
only 4%
a very small fraction of their meeting duration
Complement
discussing revenue generation
talking about how to earn money locally through taxes or other means to fund village work
Sentence 12 of 20
But gram panchayats have been systematically constrained from raising their taxes, leaving them dependent on grants.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
But
However / on the other hand
Subject
gram panchayats
the village-level local governments
Verb
have been systematically constrained
have been continuously and purposely restricted or limited by higher authorities
Adjunct
from raising their taxes,
from increasing or collecting local duties from residents
Adjunct
leaving them dependent on grants
making them rely completely on funds given by central and state governments
Sentence 13 of 20
The 14th and 15th Finance Commissions grants tied panchayat spending to central priorities such as drinking water and sanitation, limiting local priorities to ‘flagship’ programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The 14th and 15th Finance Commissions grants
The financial allocations recommended by India’s 14th and 15th constitutional bodies that decide how tax revenues are divided between central and state governments
Verb
tied
connected or linked directly, restricting any independent choices
Object
panchayat spending
how the village councils spend their allocated money
Complement
to central priorities such as drinking water and sanitation,
to the targets set by the central government, specifically clean water supply and public cleanliness systems
Adjunct
limiting local priorities to ‘flagship’ programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat
forcing the local village planning to focus only on major national welfare campaigns like the clean water initiative and the clean India campaign
Sentence 14 of 20
There is thus no incentive for citizens to attend a meeting if the funds are being earmarked by Delhi bureaucrats.
Phrase Breakdown
Verb
There is
exists
Adjunct
thus
therefore / as a consequence
Subject
no incentive for citizens to attend a meeting
no motivation or benefit for villagers to spend their day sitting in assembly sessions
Adjunct
if the funds are being earmarked by Delhi bureaucrats
in the event that all the expenditures and money are already decided and locked by government administrators in the national capital
Sentence 15 of 20
The report also states that Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act areas have “reasonably strong physical infrastructure”.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The report
the research paper on rural governance
Adjunct
also
in addition / furthermore
Verb
states
expresses or writes formally
Object
that Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act areas have “reasonably strong physical infrastructure”
the fact that the tribal districts covered by the PESA law possess fairly good roads, buildings, and facilities
Sentence 16 of 20
Under the PESA Act 1996 and related forest rights laws, gram sabhas have the right to provide prior informed consent for land acquisition and mining.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
Under the PESA Act 1996 and related forest rights laws,
according to the legal provisions of the 1996 tribal self-governance act and forest protection rules
Subject
gram sabhas
the local tribal village assemblies
Verb
have
possess or hold
Object
the right to provide prior informed consent for land acquisition and mining
the legal power to agree or disagree beforehand to any government plans to take their land or start digging for minerals
Sentence 17 of 20
However, the state routinely bypasses them or uses the excuse of low participation to manufacture consent.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
However,
On the other hand / nevertheless
Subject
the state
the government authorities and administrators
Verb
routinely bypasses
regularly ignores or avoids dealing with the assemblies
Object
them
the gram sabhas
Adjunct
or
alternatively
Verb
uses
makes use of or employs
Object
the excuse of low participation
the pretext that not enough villagers attended the meetings
Adjunct
to manufacture consent
to artificially create the appearance of agreement or approval, often through manipulation or forgery
Sentence 18 of 20
The Hasdeo Arand protests were rooted in this issue.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The Hasdeo Arand protests
The long-standing environmental and indigenous tribal demonstrations against coal mining clearances in the Hasdeo forest region of Chhattisgarh
Verb
were rooted
had their origin or cause
Adjunct
in this issue
in this exact problem of bypassing local village assembly approval
Sentence 19 of 20
There is a right to say ‘no’ and the state simply needs to acknowledge it.
Phrase Breakdown
Verb
There is
exists
Subject
a right to say ‘no’
the legal and moral entitlement of local communities to refuse consent for projects affecting their lands
Adjunct
and
furthermore / in addition
Subject
the state
the government
Adjunct
simply
merely / without making complications
Verb
needs
requires or is obligated
Object
to acknowledge it
to recognize and respect this veto power
Sentence 20 of 20
If ‘yes’ must be the only answer, the report’s grouses are a farce.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
If ‘yes’ must be the only answer,
in the event that the government expects the village councils to always agree and never reject projects
Subject
the report’s grouses
the complaints and concerns raised in the ministry’s document about low participation
Verb
are
exist as
Complement
a farce
a ridiculous sham or mockery, lacking any real meaning or sincerity

Reading Comprehension

Practice questions based on this editorial

Reading Comprehension - Yes and no: On the erosion of India’s grassroots democracy

Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about the erosion of grassroots democracy in India, the PESA Act, and the NIRNAY app.

5 Questions Passing: 70%

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