Participatory rural governance in India

The paper looks at participatory rural governance in India through the institution of gram sabhas. The latter, literally village meeting, is a mechanism through which villagers can express their grievances to and monitor the functioning of panchayats. The paper presents the structure, functioning and evolution of gram sabhas and argues that while these institutions have been established by law, their functions have not been spelt out in detail and as a consequence they continue to function ineffectively. The paper analyses the case of West Bengal, where gram sansads have been established apart from gram sabhas. The functions of a gram sansad are discussed and a comparative assessment of its efficacy vis-Ó-vis gram sabhas in other states is presented. Various impediments to people's participation in local governance are addressed and suggestions are put forward to ensure a more effective and meaningful participation.