The 73rd Constitutional Amendment is a milestone in the modern history of India and it has taken democracy to the grassroots. It aims to transform the characteristics of our democracy from representative to representative and participatory democracy. Before going into the details of the process of decentralization of powers in the states over a period, it is necessary to explain the basic framework of decentrali­zation of powers.To operationalise the basic framework – both letter and spirit – the state governments have to take an array of steps that are fundamental and basic for the establishment of a local governance system.By keeping the above framework, in the last twenty years how decentral­ization took place in south Indian states – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala has been evaluated in this volume. The four chapters have been written by G. Palanithurai, M. Gobinath Reddy, M. Sivanna and Jos Chathukulam. Along with the above state-specific chapters, there are a few chapters covering Panchayat finance in South Indian States and democratiza­tion in this volume written by B. DevendraBabu and G. Palanithurai, respec­tively. S. N. Sangita has written a chapter on Political regime, Decentralized Governance and social security in south Indian states. It is also included in this volume. Further the chapter written by V. N. Alok on “Devolution of Powers to Local Bodies” has been incorporated in the present work. Finally yet another paper on “Decentralization of Powers: Acceleration and Deceleration” by G. Palanithurai for a different journal has also been included. Thus totally nine papers have been accommodate

With reference to India.

Contributed articles.

This is a collection of 20 essays, dedicated to Dr George Mathew, by eminent scholars and academics on decentralised governance and its importance in a globalising world. Based on emperical studies and paradigms of developed and developing countries, it has an overarching focus on India s panchayati raj institutions. The Seventy third constitution Amendment Act of 1992, by making PRIs mandatory, was a historic move towards deepening democracy and advancing development through decentralisation. Decentralisation programmes in other countries (e.g S.Africa and Pakistan ) are also reviewed. The book offers a comprehensive account of development and governance at the grassroots through a broad canvas of multiperspective and interdisciplinary presentations.

Study, with reference to Tamil Nadu, India.