How has Panchayati Raj proved beneficial for Indian administration?

Rural local government is popularly known as the Panchayati Raj System in India. It was introduced by a constitutional amendment in 1992, although it is based upon the traditional panchayat system of South Asia. It was established to practice a more decentralised form of governance.

The structure of Panchayati Raj varies from state to state. Some states have three-tier structure (Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zilla Parishad at district level), whereas some have the two-tier structure (Gram Panchayat at village level and Panchayat Samiti at the block level). A few states have only a single-tier structure at the village level. Two main achievements of the Panchayati Raj System are as follows –

a) Panchayats can best carry out the development programmes, such as mending roads, terrace, and embank the fields, building bunds, digging drains, provide fresh drinking water, etc. They are best constituted to organize voluntary labour for social upliftment and economic amelioration. Since they directly involve the local people, resource distribution for the various development works is more appropriate and involves less risk.

b) Panchayati Raj system ensures effective coordination between Government programmes and those of voluntary agencies. It acts as a potential school for political training of the masses and can also serve as schools of social service, health care, popular education and social progress.