Changing Pattern of District Administration

The Basic Territorial unit of administration in India, is the district administration which manages the entire public affairs within the unit. It is the most sensitive and vibrant sub-branch of public administration. Due to the over emphasis on development activities it is no more merely confined to law and order and regulatory administration. Naturally the pattern of District Administration is changing fast. The human resource at the disposal of the District Administration has to cope up with the new challenges coming before it particularly, in th context of various development and employment guarantee schemes. After giving a brief account of the evolution of District Administration in India, the book examines in detail the office, functions and changing role of the District Collector. It also discusses the dimensions and dynamics of development administration, highlights the organisational structure, staffing pattern and tries to locate the bottlenecks. Detailed description of district planning and involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in development administration is an unique feature of the book. It also diagnoses the problem of coordination and suggests suitable strategies to maintain it properly. Finally, it attempts on how District Administration could change its colonial image and become responsive to the needs and expectations of the people. A useful book, it will prove helpful for administrators, practitioners, academics and students of public administration.

Sweta Mishra (b. 1971) obtained her M.A. and M.Phil degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi. Her area of specialisation is public administration, rural development and grass-root democracy. Her earlier book “Democratic Decentralisation in India. Retrospect and Prospect” published by Mittal Publications, New Delhi has been widely acclaimed. She frequently writes for professional journals on wide-ranging problems like development administration, democratic decentralisation and Indian political system. currently she is engaged in her Ph.D. thesis “Promotion of Small-Scale Industries in India.”