Decentralisation is a dispersal of authority among a number of individuals or units. It implies both political and administrative. Political decentralisation implies setting up of new level of governance. Administrative decentralisation implies the superior authority setting up area administration and vesting them with some sort of independent powers and functions.
As we all know that the application of decentralization into different fields of administration will have both positive and negative effects on our administration of the country. It removes the danger of apoplexy at the top and anaemia at the extremities. The dispersal of authority, responsibility and functions brings considerable relief to the overburden central authority. Also, it strengthens the field agencies and grass units of organisation.
The people immediately affected get an opportunity for a better adaptation and adjustment with the administrative programmes and operations, which are brought closer to them. The dispersal of authority also encourages faster action, reduces delay, shortens red tape and thus increase the overall efficiency of administration. Decentralization also gives an opportunity to develop resourcefulness and self respect among subordinate administrators.
Decentralization is not free from the drawbacks either. Too much of decentralization may lead to anarchy. It makes the co-ordination and integration of administration operations difficult. It should be distinguished from delegation. Decentralization signifies the central authority divesting itself of certain powers, which are given away to local authorities. On the contrary , delegation implies the transfer of certain functions by the central to the local authority which thereupon acts as a agent of the former and also retains the right to issue directives or revised decisions. In brief , only functions are ceded not authority and responsibility.
Decentralisation must be done in limits. Before divesting himself to functions, the central- head must be sure of several things.
