He was addressing an ICSSR seminar of local government institutions in India, which was organised by the Department of Public Administration. Sahi, while speaking about various factors responsible for a sharp decline in the status of local bodies, discussed reformative actions on the part of Central government.

He said the Punjab State Finance Commission, which examined the issue of delegation of powers and devolution of finances to the local self- government institutions, recommended radical changes to make these grassroot institutions functional.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Joginder Singh Puar, while welcoming the guests, emphasised that local government institutions have been the governing units since time immemorial. He felt the system of local self-government was necessary to train the people in the art of governance to enable them to learn from experience and to open avenues for political participation of the elected people.

Puar lamented that after Independence, these local institutions have been suffering from maladies, including factionalism, groupism, casteism and lack of leadership.