ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the issues involved in the continuation of both Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and parallel bodies or merging of these two institutions or convergence of these institutions at the grass-roots level. Andhra Pradesh is one of the first two states in the country to establish the PRIs much on the lines of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee Report. The objective behind establishing the Panchayati Raj system has multi-fold purpose. Apart from providing civic and developmental services the core objective includes strengthening the grass-root democracy by making the people to participate in the decision-making process through delegating the authority to the lowest layer in the society. Most of the parallel organizations are working in the field of agriculture, health, education and finance. Among them some are created by central government through centrally sponsored schemes and by the concerned state governments through state-sponsored schemes. The parallel bodies (PBs) are created for supposedly speedy implementation of rural development policies and greater accountability.
