panchayati raj system in india
Panchayati raj system of India
Panchayats have been the backbone of the Indian villages since the beginning of recorded history. The village panchayats, in one shape or other, have survived in spite of all upheavals and changes in India. Panchayati Raj is identified as an institutional expression of democratic decentralization in India. These bodies had occupied a prestigious position and they were considered as the self-sufficient and small republics. Panchayati Raj Institutions have always been considered as a means of good governance which offer citizens living in rural areas a practical opportunity to participate in village level decision making and planning process. Gandhiji- the father of nation had aptly remarked that the Indian independence must begin at the bottom and every village ought to be republic or panchayats having powers. Gandhiji’s dream has been translated into reality with the introduction of the three-tier panchayati raj system to ensure people’s participation in rural reconstruction. Panchayati Raj is a decentralised form of governance in which each village is responsible for its own affairs and in which Gram Panchayat is the basic unit of administration. It also means gross-root democracy because people at the gross-root level i.e. the village level are able to participate in the management of their affairs. Panchayati Raj becomes very important in the in the Indian context where more than 70 percent of the people live in villages. In such a situation Panchayati Raj assumes a very effective role in the political education of rural folk. It happens to be the most effective instrument of ensuring the involment of common people in the process of governance by guaranteeing them a role in the formulation and execution of policies and programmes of rural development. The Panchayat acts as conduit between the local government and the people. Decisions are taken by the majority vote, and are generally welcomed by the villegers. It is said
Panchayats have been the backbone of the Indian villages since the beginning of recorded history. The village panchayats, in one shape or other, have survived in spite of all upheavals and changes in India. Panchayati Raj is identified as an institutional expression of democratic decentralization in India. These bodies had occupied a prestigious position and they were considered as the self-sufficient and small republics. Panchayati Raj Institutions have always been considered as a means of good governance which offer citizens living in rural areas a practical opportunity to participate in village level decision making and planning process. Gandhiji- the father of nation had aptly remarked that the Indian independence must begin at the bottom and every village ought to be republic or panchayats having powers. Gandhiji’s dream has been translated into reality with the introduction of the three-tier panchayati raj system to ensure people’s participation in rural reconstruction. Panchayati Raj is a decentralised form of governance in which each village is responsible for its own affairs and in which Gram Panchayat is the basic unit of administration. It also means gross-root democracy because people at the gross-root level i.e. the village level are able to participate in the management of their affairs. Panchayati Raj becomes very important in the in the Indian context where more than 70 percent of the people live in villages. In such a situation Panchayati Raj assumes a very effective role in the political education of rural folk. It happens to be the most effective instrument of ensuring the involment of common people in the process of governance by guaranteeing them a role in the formulation and execution of policies and programmes of rural development. The Panchayat acts as conduit between the local government and the people. Decisions are taken by the majority vote, and are generally welcomed by the villegers. It is said