CASE STUDY Innovation in local governance: a case study of Durgapur Gram Panchayat’s efforts in controlling tuberculosis Madhulika Mitra • Debraj Bhattacharya • Buddhadeb Ghosh Published online: 27 April 2014 Ó Indian Institute of Management Calcutta 2014 Abstract Studies on local government in India have so far focused on certain themes such as devolution of power, local government and poverty reduction, organisational dimensions, gender and inclusiveness, etc. What is missing in the literature is an analysis of the innovations brought about local governments themselves in spite of the limited autonomy that is provided to them by Union and State Governments. This paper hopes to initiate a discussion on this aspect of local government in India through a case study of Durgapur Gram Panchayat of Bardhaman district of the state of West Bengal. The paper analyses how the Gram Panchayat developed a successful model of combating tuberculosis within its jurisdictional area. Since tuberculosis is a major health problem in India the case study will also be of interest to the scholars and planners of public health policy. Keywords Local government Á Panchayati raj Á Public health Á Tuberculosis Á PRI–civil society collaboration Introduction Studies on rural local Government (Panchayati Raj) in West Bengal, India have so far focused on certain themes—(a) panchayats and poverty reduction, (b) inclusiveness of the panchayats, (c) devolution of powers to the panchayats, (d) bureaucratic control over panchayats, (e) women and panchayats, (f) organ- isational dimensions of gram panchayats, (g) party control over panchayats, (h) panchayat elections, etc. (Ghosh 2013; Bhattacharya 2013). What is so far missing in the discussion is, among others, an analysis of the innovations carried out by the panchayats themselves beyond their prescribed functions as development agents of central and state governments. This paper is aimed at initiating an exploration of this dimension of the Panchayati Raj in West Bengal, India. There are valid reasons to assert that decentralisa- tion improves public service delivery. Empirical evidence in favour of this view is also available. After reviewing a fairly large body of empirical literature, Shah et al. (2004) conclude that the literature is ‘broadly supportive’ of the assertion that decentrali- sation makes positive impact on ‘reforming public sector in developing countries’. However, to make decentralisation work, it is necessary to devolve administrative and fiscal powers to the elected governments at the local levels. Without adequate powers and resources such bodies cannot take auton- omous decisions and the local governments cannot be M. Mitra Á D. Bhattacharya (&) Á B. Ghosh Institute of Social Sciences, Kolkata, India e-mail: mailfordebraj@gmail.com M. Mitra e-mail: madhulikamr@gmail.com B. Ghosh e-mail: ghosh_buddhadeb@yahoo.co.in 123 Decision (June 2014) 41(2):229–238 DOI 10.1007/s40622-014-0037-1