PRIA

On this , it is important to reflect on the journey of decentralised democracy in India—anchored in the vision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which recognised as institutions of local self-governance and strengthened the role of the .

PRIA’s long-standing work in this space offers valuable insights into how this vision has been translated into practice. The report, Joint Intervention Towards Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (1999),https://tinyurl.com/panchayati-joint, captures an important phase of this journey—where PRIA, along with a network of partners, worked across multiple states to strengthen as empowered, participatory institutions rather than mere implementers of top-down programmes.

Through 150+ training and orientation programmes, 70+ knowledge resources, and partnerships across 10 states, the initiative directly and indirectly engaged 20,000+ elected representatives. A strong emphasis was placed on building the capacities of , especially and groups, while also fostering bottom-up planning and community participation. The interventions helped bring critical issues—such as financial , women’s leadership, and the functioning of Panchayats—into policy and public discourse.

At a time when governance and education are increasingly interconnected, it is encouraging to see the integration of Panchayati Raj within the National Education Policy framework. Recent Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) organised by the University Grants Commission have begun incorporating decentralised governance and local institutions into academic discourse—recognising Panchayats as sites of , civic engagement, and participatory development.

This convergence signals an important shift: preparing future practitioners, researchers, and citizens to engage meaningfully with local governance systems. As we move forward, strengthening Panchayats will depend not only on policy and practice, but also on how deeply these ideas are embedded in learning ecosystems.

Rajesh Tandon Martha Farrell Foundation Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute Unnati Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Development Alternatives Group People's Institute of Rural Development - PIRD Transform Rural India NIRDPR-National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India Panchayat, Rural Development and Social Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh