Facilitating local participation through rural Panchayats in India
Since Independence in 1947 and its growth as a democracy, India has increasingly moved towards decentralisation of government and the use of participatory approaches at the local level. Central to decentralisation is the Panchayat Raj Institution (PRIs), which despite being firmly established must still overcome resistance from bureaucrats fearing loss of power and apathy among communities due to casteism. This paper examines the approaches of two Indian communities towards local services planning and delivery.