Impact of Caste Factors in Decision-Making Process in Gram Sabha in Rajasthan

Gram Sabha is the basic unit of development under the Panchayati Raj system. In country like India having hierarchical social system plays an important role in the decision-making process in local governance at grassroots level. The present research paper is an attempt to analyze the impact of caste factors in decision-making process of the development at village level. It is a qualitative-cum-quantitative work based on primary survey in 2011. The analysis of the study reveals that the caste is very rigid phenomena and plays a significant role in decision making process at village level development. Caste factor affect the participation in the Gram Sabha meetings, taking decision on particular issues and initiating development process in a particular area of the Panchayat and taking final shape of development as a whole unit. Moreover, the study indicates that the upper castes has dominantly affects the decision making and development process at village level while lower castes have insignificant role in decision making and development process due to their socio-economic condition, caliber, attitude, keen interest and liaison etc. It is evident that despite the Panchayati Raj System has firstly introduced in the district of Nagaur in Rajasthan in the country; does not achieve the basic goal of development till date, because caste is still strongest factor affecting development process at individual as well as community level in the rural society of India.