Participatory Aspect of Gram Sabha: A study of two Blocks in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh

The 73^rd Constitutional Amendment to the Indian Constitution (1992) is a pioneering in institutionalizing Panchayats in India which engraved out the third tier of the Indian Political System. The 73rd Amendment exposes that Panchayati Raj Institutions had to be vested with such powers and authorities as would have enabled them to function as effective institutions of self-government. Gram Sabha is one of the important and fundamental features of the 73rd Amendment. The Gram Sabha is expected to be an embodiment of participatory and direct democracy. It is a constitutional body consisting all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village Panchayat. It provides a political forum to people in the village which enables each and every voter of village to participate in decision making at local level representatives and thereby ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the village panchayat. Gram Sabha is also to act as a watchdog in the interest of the people. Gram Sabha’ is totally reliant on a change in the attitude of the local people, who are the members of the Gram Sabha. Present paper is an attempt to analysis the awareness and participation of rural masses in the PRIs.