Gram Sabhas and Panchayats

The Hindu, Page 6, Editorial - Yes and no - GS-2-Polity

Why in News: A Rural Development Ministry report based on surveys examines citizen participation in gram sabhas and highlights concerns over participation fatigue.

Findings of the Report

• The report states that "participation fatigue" has reduced citizen participation in gram sabhas. It proposes measures such as more meetings and greater oversight.
• 18%–28% of respondents cited lack of outcomes as the reason for low participation.
• The report recommends greater use of the NIRNAY app.
• It also recommends uploading meeting minutes in real time.
• More than half of the barriers to participation are related to livelihoods.

Challenges to Gram Sabha Functioning

• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowers gram sabhas. Governments have reduced gram sabhas to clearinghouses for Central and State schemes.
• Increased digital compliance leaves panchayat secretaries with less time to facilitate discussions.
• Workers have reportedly been informed that MGNREGA demands were "not entered in the system" because of server errors.
• State has failed to institutionalise attendance as a paid component of social protection.
• It argues that gram sabhas have remained a platform dominated by landlords and contractors.

Fiscal Constraints

• According to the report, 13% of gram sabha time is spent identifying local issues. Only 4% of the time is spent discussing revenue generation.
• Gram panchayats have been systematically constrained from raising their own taxes. This has made them dependent on grants.
• The 14th and 15th Finance Commission grants linked panchayat expenditure to priorities such as drinking water and sanitation. Local priorities are therefore limited to flagship programmes such as Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission.

PESA and Gram Sabhas

• The report states that PESA Act areas have "reasonably strong physical infrastructure." Under the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and related Forest Rights laws, gram sabhas have the right to provide prior informed consent for land acquisition and mining.
• State routinely bypasses gram sabhas or cites low participation to manufacture consent. The Hasdeo Arand protests are cited in this context. Gram sabhas have the right to say "no", and this should be acknowledged.

More in News on Panchayats & Gram Sabhas

AI-tool ‘SabhaSaar’

Why in news: On Independence Day, AI-powered tool ‘SabhaSaar’ launched in Tripura, later extended to other states.

• SabhaSaar generates structured minutes of Gram Sabha meetings from video/audio recordings using AI.
• Panchayat officials can upload recordings via e-GramSwaraj login; ensures uniformity of minutes nationwide.
• Built on Bhashini, AI-powered language translation platform bridging literacy, language, digital divides. Tool transcribes, translates, summarizes in Indian languages (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati) + English.
• Gram Sabhas must meet 4 times a year (Jan 26, May 1, Aug 15, Oct 2). Panchayat NIRNAY portal launched for real-time monitoring of Gram Sabha meetings. NIRNAY allows scheduling, agenda circulation, citizen notifications, ensuring participation & transparency.
• Gram Sabha = bedrock of Panchayati Raj System; April 24 celebrated as Panchayati Raj Day (since 73rd Amendment Act, 1993). India has 2,55,397 village panchayats (MoPR data). (LSG = State List, Entry 5).
• BHASHINI launched by PM (2022) under the National Language Technology Mission. Aims to provide translation services in 22 scheduled Indian languages to break linguistic barriers and improve digital access.
• AI-based language translation tool enabling real-time translation across Indian languages.
• Seeks to build a National Public Digital Platform for languages and increase Indian language content online.
• Designed to integrate technology in governance with multi-language support.
• Promotes national integration, inclusivity, and digital empowerment using AI tools.

Other digital initiatives for Gram Panchayats

• eGramSwaraj is a web-based portal for transparency in decentralized planning, progress reporting, financial management, work-based accounting, and asset details.
• AuditOnline launched to ensure timely audit of Panchayat accounts and for maintaining audit records.
• Common Service Centres (CSCs) set up in rural areas and Gram Panchayats to provide citizen-centric services online. CSCs function through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

Panchayat Devolution Index

Why in news: Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Devolution Index based on a study by the Indian Institute of Public Administration.

• IIPA studied 172 panchayats in 68 districts across India to measure performance on six parameters: framework, functions, finances, functionaries, capacity building, accountability.
• Index scales states from 0-100 & was last published in 2014; over the past decade, the national average score rose from 39.92 to 43.89.
• Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu topped the index.
• Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recorded the biggest improvement. Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand are the lowest-scoring states.
• Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Haryana have seen the biggest declines in the past decade.
• As of 2024, there are 2.62 lakh panchayats in India, up from 2.48 lakh in 2013–14.

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