A Critique of Decentralization and Participatory Approach in Delivering Clean Water: The Case of Rural India (Report‪)‬

1. INTRODUCTION 'Development' as an ideology and as a practice is a highly debatable subject in the contemporary economics literature. The concept of development is not about transforming the economic and social basis of societies at large. Instead, it seems to deal with problems rather than searching for grand ideological alternatives (Thomas, 2000). Development as an ideology is seldom relevant now-a-days. The term 'development' is now used to mean practice more than vision or process (ibid). Thus, the process of development has been applied only to the areas where the issue of poverty and lack of access to resources are materially noticed. 'Development' is used to mean the process of transition or transformation toward a modern capitalist, industrial economy (Ferguson 2001). The success of development interventions focuses on the possibility of making globalization and neo-liberalism work. Even the centrally planned and bureaucratically directed development projects are relying on such theoretical underpinnings. Neo-liberal system has never been recognized as a base of development. The efficiency of centrally planned models is subject to new theorization i.e. lack of profit incentive, competition, financial discipline, etc. (Chang, 2003). This has been recognized in the current context of development i.e. liberal capitalism as the dominant mode of social organization and the basis ofglobalization (ibid). The interaction between individual and state has reached a critical juncture in development debate. Both the success and failure of development approaches are important. In fact the failure or inadequacy of grand narrative model is said to be the cause of new development initiatives. The failure is mainly attributable to the lack of participation of the stake holders (people) in modus operandi of 'development' i.e in the decision making process. Thus, decision making in development is a heterogeneous concept i.e make heterogeneous views with a homogenous need. This critical issue helps locate the importance of decentralization as a development approach. These changes are well reflected in clean water supply sector. The paper focuses on the implications of these changes on the clean water supply sector of rural India.