"Capacity-building of elected representatives is the missing link in genuine democratic decentralisation." Analyse with reference to RGSA.

The 73rd Amendment (1992) inserted Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule, transferring 29 subjects and reserving one-third seats for women under Article 243-D. Yet devolution of functions and funds without trained functionaries produces panchayats that exist on paper — making capacity-building, delivered chiefly through the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the decisive third pillar.

Why capacity is the binding constraint

• Functions without competence: Gram Panchayats must prepare GPDPs ("Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas"); plan quality depends on representatives who can read a budget and conduct gap analysis [4].
• Funds without absorptive capacity: the 15th Finance Commission earmarked about ₹2.36 lakh crore for Rural Local Bodies (2021-26), including ₹1.42 lakh crore tied grants for water and sanitation — untrained bodies underspend or misallocate [2][3].
• Digital devolution: eGramSwaraj, integrated with PFMS and available in 22 languages, shifts accounting and vendor payments online; without digital literacy the portal becomes a compliance ritual [3].
• Social inclusion: first-time women, SC and ST representatives elected under Article 243-D need orientation to convert reserved seats into real authority.

RGSA's answer — and its limits

• Revamped as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (2022-26), RGSA funds orientation training within six months of election and refresher training within two years, plus thematic, GPDP and specialised modules [1][5].
• Crores of elected representatives have been trained, supported by Sashakt Panchayat Netri Abhiyan for women leaders [1].
• Limits: training is episodic, quality varies across states, and it cannot substitute for activity mapping, own-source revenue or staff support — the parallel gaps in devolution.

Capacity-building is therefore necessary though not sufficient: it converts formal devolution into functional self-government. Institutionalising continuous, mentored training linked to GPDP outcomes, alongside genuine transfer of functions, funds and functionaries, would realise the Article 40 vision of panchayats as units of self-government and localise the SDGs on the road to Viksit Bharat @2047.