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Dr. P. P. Balan is a distinguished scholar and practitioner with extensive experience in decentralisation, Panchayati Raj, local governance, rural development and public policy. He served as Senior Consultant, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, New Delhi.
Dr. Balan holds a PhD in Gandhian Movement and was the recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation (2020), instituted by the Gandhi Development Trust, Durban, South Africa.
He served as Director of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) for 11 years, contributing significantly to capacity building, institutional strengthening and the advancement of decentralised governance in Kerala. His engagement with local governance began at the grassroots level as President of Chapparapadavu Grama Panchayat, Kannur, Kerala, which was adjudged as one of the best Panchayats by the Government of Kerala.
Prior to and alongside his work in Kerala, Dr. Balan held the position of Professor-cum-Director at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh. In this capacity, he worked extensively on strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions in North Indian States, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh.
His expertise has also been sought internationally. He has served as an Adviser to the Local Government Departments of Bhutan and Sri Lanka, contributing to initiatives related to decentralisation and local governance.
Dr. Balan has authored and contributed to several publications in English and Malayalam on local governance, decentralisation and rural development. His recent Malayalam book, Munpe Nadakkunna Keralam (Kerala Walks Ahead), published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute, draws on his professional experiences and observations on decentralisation and local governance across 40 countries.
With extensive experience spanning grassroots governance, academic research, institutional development, public policy and international advisory assignments, Dr. Balan brings a broad and practical perspective to the policy and practice of decentralised planning and governance.
