Dr. V. Anil Kumar is Professor in Political Science at the Centre for Political Institutions, Governance and Development, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India. He authored a number of books that include, Urban Governance and Local Democracy in South India, Federalism and Local Government in India, Sisyphean Efforts? State Policy and Child Labour In Karnataka, Peasantry Capitalism and State: The Political Economy of Agrarian Societies, Decentralized Governance and planning in Karnataka, Land, Labour and Caste: Agrarian Change and Grassroots Politics in Andhra Pradesh, among others.