Panchayati Raj: Local Governance and Rural Development in Tribal Society of India

Rural Development can be understood as a process which aims to raise the capacity of people so that they could control their environment within the distribution of benefits. In brief, it is viewed as strategy to bring about improvement in the economic, political and social life of the rural people. The participation of people in rural development is a must because the developmental activities have to be carried out by the government along with cooperation of the locales. For the purpose, the local government is considered as an instrument of the implementing machinery of the state development and welfare programmes, and as a unit of government at the local levels. Panchayati Raj system serves the most effective forms of local governments available where people can participate meaningfully and directly in the developmental process.

 

The Panchayati Raj Institutions is the simplest form of institution which ensures developmental participation at lowest level. It provides a mechanism for participation of people in the developmental activities in their locality. The full benefit of democracy can be realized only when there is true devolution of both power and resources down to the grass root.

 

For the success of democracy at grassroot level, grassroot people should be able to fully participate in the Panchayat system. Against this backdrop, attempt has been made in the study to evaluate performance of the Panchayati Raj Institutions with regard to various rural development schemes and extent of participation of people in the studyarea. Attempt has also been made systematically to understand the Involvement of Panchayat leaders, Panchayat officials and common villagers in the formulation and implementation of rural development programmes initiated by Panchayati Raj Institutions.