Research

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1.) “Study to Review the Efficacy, Status & Implications of the Nyaya Panchayats” supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The objective of the research was to delve into the mechanism of justice delivery by Nyaya Panchayats at the grass-root level. The analysis of this mechanism will contribute significantly to develop an inclusive system of justice delivery through elected representatives of the people. The proposed study aimed to assess and make recommendations on the status, role, composition and means by which Nyaya Panchayats can aid in a decentralized, cost effective timely dispensation of justice at the Panchayat level. The final report containing the study’s assessments and recommendations was circulated and made available to the Drafting Committee commissioned by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the Nyaya Panchayat Bill Consultations Process and other concerned actors. The research assessed the present status of Nyaya Panchayats in the states that they exist, made a desk assessment of the provisions of the Nyaya Panchayat related state laws to highlight provisions relevant for the drafting of a new bill while identifying commendable provisions as well as shortcomings in these statutes, highlighted the status of functioning of Nyaya Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh where it is functioning better than the other states, carried out a comprehensive institutional analysis and assessment also entailing an SWOT analysis of this institution as it is functioning in Himachal Pradesh, outlined best practices/procedures and identified the core areas of responsibility of Nyaya Panchayats presently as well as potentially in the settlement of disputes by conciliation, arbitration or mediation.

Consultation

In order to discuss the Interim Report of the "Study to Review the Efficacy, status and implications of the Nyaya Panchayats a consultation was called by RLEK at the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, New Delhi, on 25th January 2007. The suggestions and recommendations put forth by the participants have been incorporated in the final report. Mr. Mani Shanker Aiyer, Hon’ble Minister for Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs and DONER inaugurated the consultation. Participants included Government officials, judges of the Supreme Court and representatives from other NGOs.

2.) "Local Democracy in Asia: Representation in Decentralized Governance” supported by the UNDP Bangkok Regional Office.
The broad aim of the research was to explore the different types of mechanisms that can affect the degree of accountability present in local governance. The major thrust areas of the research were accountability, responsiveness and participation. The research was carried out in the states of Haryana and Chhattisgarh bearing in mind the variations in their demographic make-up and Human Index Indicators. The Objectives of the research were to study the impact of different forms of party-political engagement, electoral systems and affirmative actions on participation and representation, examine whether representation for groups accustomed to social exclusion and economic marginalization has enhanced their influence in decision-making in these bodies, analyze the impact of accountability mechanisms utilized by local institutions in decentralized governance and responsiveness on part of local government bodies, study the relation between citizens’ and local government and other institutions of local governance, develop means to secure accountability with an emphasis on strengthened internal audit procedures and people’s participation in local governance and to build a knowledge-base and policy brief on decentralized local governance in the country and region.

3.) UNESCO Small Grants Programme on Poverty Eradication “Analysis of the existing laws and policies at the National level in addressing poverty eradication within the human rights framework".

The research aimed at analysis focusing on the relationship between poverty and human rights. It dealt with the issue of effectiveness of the existing legal and policy frameworks in ensuring and promoting pro-poor policies and eradication of poverty within a human rights framework. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the existing legal and policy framework in terms of addressing poverty in relation to human rights in the light of India’s international commitments, identify the gap between international agreements and national commitments in relation to poverty eradication within the human rights framework, study various efforts undertaken at the National level for a Human rights-based approach to poverty eradication, identify laws at the National level, which are inconsistent with the poverty reduction, compile a database of relevant domestic and international case law, legal precedent and best practice examples and make recommendations to the Government of India (Duty Bearers) to facilitate moving towards eradicating the causes of poverty.

Rlek has conducted a “ Study to review the Subject laws which infringe upon the domain of the Panchayat Raj Institutions” Supported by The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India
Though the Part IX of the Constitution envisages Panchayat as institutions of local self-governance however the extent of devolution of powers has been left to the discretion of the State Government. The problem of vagueness in the legal documents is further worsened by the creation and continuation of various village/ block/district level bodies by various Central and State enactments. All these bodies work independently conflicting with the working of the Panchayats. The functioning of these bodies overlaps with the activities carried out by the Panchayat. Therefore the study was conducted to identify these analogous ‘parallel bodies’, which encroach upon the functions of PRIs and to avoid the inter-institutional conflict.