Decentralisation as a Continuum: Hybrid Governance and Tribal Local Institutions in Telangana

Decentralisation in India is constitutionally framed as a mechanism to strengthen grassroots democracy and empower margianalised communities. However, its implementation in tribal regions reveals a far more complex reality. This paper employs the “decentralisation continuum” to understand local governance as a dynamic process shaped by shifting power relations, socio-cultural norms, bureaucratic practices, and political mobilisation, rather than as a fixed institutional arrangement. Integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and secondary evidence, the study examines national trends in decentralisation and employs the continuum framework to assess Telangana’s conversion of Banjara Thanda into Gram Panchayats, with a focus on the contrasting experiences of Warangal and Khammam districts. The findings demonstrate that tribal Panchayats often operate within “hybrid governance spaces”, where customary institutions coexist with statutory bodies, and formal empowerment is mediated by bureaucratic dependence and local social structures. While Panchayat formation has expanded representation and improved access to welfare schemes, substantive autonomy remains uneven and negotiated. The continuum framework thus offers a more accurate analytical lens for understanding tribal governance, revealing decentalisation as an evolving spectrum ranging from symbolic to partial to substantive empowerment. The study emphasises the importance of context-sensitive policies that enhance institutional capacity, acknowledge customary institutions, and foster inclusive participation in tribal regions.