LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PARTICIPATORY RURAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT GOVERNMENT IN NORTHWESTERN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The government is almost the sole source of services in the rural sector of developing countries. Being closest \0 the people and central to the participalOry development, local government in these countries has assigned a strong role to play in rural development. This study is basically designed to evaluate the 'district government system' in terms of participation, representation and responsiveness. Using the illustrative experience of Pakistan, this research focuses on the workings district government in rural NWFP, at a detailed level and seeks to the role and participation of councils in and improving the Pakistani villages in three respects. Firstly, the research has attempted to analyze the local government system in Pakistan being rciormed by the successive governments in order to assess people participation, Secondly, the study assesses the local cOImciis' participation in fonnulating and implementing the centrally/provincially financed nlral development programmes. Thirdly, it places the survey and case study analysis in context through a detailed assessment activities and initiatives, which have been developed by councils for participatory development, and investigates the peoples' involvement development Following a case study of district government in I'\orthwestern Pakistan, the study applied a cumulative methodology involving the collection of data from a sample of 400 villagers and 120 councilors, representing 16 villages in 8 lInion councils of 2 districts of northwestern Pakistan. It also presents case studies of 2 'district councils' and evaluates the outcome and limitations oflocal government. A chronological analysis of the history of the local government in Pakistan reveals thaI democratic decentralized institutions at village level, favoring pal1icipation in development could not be established despite frequent reforms by the military rulers. Similarly, the government participation in development programs of the federal and provincial government is also minimal. Mechanisms to encourage more active involvement and participation of the local govemmcnts are severely restricted. However. both villagers and iv councilors are nevertheless more inclined to favor people involvement in development activities which is encouraging for improved participation in [mum, In evaluating the impact of decentralized govenunent on development and participation, this research concludes that hitherto decentralization in Pakistan has no\ been altogether Despite this, villagers have a strong confidence in district government as they perceived it a more effective means for panicipatory development Due to a variety of internal limitations and externally imposed obstacles, the development initiatives of local government can make only limited progress, Usually, their effectiveness vanes directly with I1nancial and administrative capabilities of local officials and with the degrce of political support from the central provincial governments, The thesis concludes by underlining the potential barriers - poor i1nancial base, a dependence on provincial/central governments lor resources, lack of motivation, democratic dencit, lack peoples' participation and political interference - which have abated the development capacity of local government. There is a need to overcomc these problems before it can act as a vehicle [or rural dcvelopment.