Publication

This paper examines the impact of local politics on two village-level poverty reduction schemes in Madhya Pradesh. It investigates whether the intended recipients have been able to access the development funds, as opposed to the political and economic elites. The authors explore the use of funds and the role of the bureaucracy from whom power over these funds has been transferred to local levels. The authors analyze the 'logic of distribution' and conclude that although villagers were at times able to exploit political rivalries among competing factions, public officials at all levels were generally out of touch with the interests of the poor.