The present study was conducted in 20 Gram Panchayats spread over 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh in order to assess the planning and decision making process adopted at panchayat level. Feedback and perception of elected members as well as general villagers regarding functioning of Gram Panchayat in general and panchayat committees in particular have been captured and analyzed. It has been observed that system is in place but has to be made more participatory and structured. The constitutional and statutory provisions have been successful in ensuring representation of different disadvantaged sections such as backward and scheduled caste people and women in the Gram Panchayat. But the objective of Panchayat reforms will be fully realized only when all the members, especially those belonging to disadvantaged sections, will have equal/proportionate access to and control over the decision making process of the Gram Panchayat. Findings reveal that such people have reasonable access to information about various decisions but lack in adequate control over them. There is need for absolute transparency in the functioning of Gram Panchayats which will be possible only when panchayat committees are encouraged to play an active role in decision making and all the decisions are widely discussed in open Gram Sabha meetings.
Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Committee, Local Self-government, Participatory Democracy
