Which of the following according to you involve decentralisation? Why are other options not sufficient for decentralisation?
To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.
Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.
Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.
A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started by the State government.
Explanation
The textbook conclusion explicitly defines democracy and decentralisation as giving people the power to decide their own policies and programmes (Option b). The other options are insufficient because the text argues that without the power to make decisions, elections become 'somewhat symbolic' and local bodies act merely as implementing agencies for the State, which is not 'real decentralisation'.