New Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Sociological Study

Panchayati Raj Institutions have been playing a pivotal for the role for rural development in general and especially upliftment of down-trodden people in rural areas in particular. This is a fact that certain changes in the existing Panchayati Raj Institutions have taken place in the context of constitutional amendment. Some policy decisions and statutory changes would need early consideration by the State Government and political parties to remove the constraints, which have become obvious during the recent working of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the functioning of the Panchayati Raj Act and issues relating to legislatures, executives, and the people for achieving goals for efficient functioning of PRIs, better administration at the village level through participatory and representative democracy at the grassroots and overall development with the active involvement of the village people. Further, an attempt has also been made to examine the working of Gram Panchayats under the new Panchayati Raj Act in Haryana and to analyse association between social, economic, and cultural, dimensions and the working of Gram Panchayats.This study would be helpful for policy makers, planners, administrators, and executives to improve and channellise the budget for balanced development of the villages. It may also help in revamping and streamlining the functioning of Panchayats as a whole by suggesting various improvement in the act.