Article summary
Abstract
Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj was based on the basic needs and self-reliance of Indian rural society. According to him, the village should be developed as a self-sustaining forest centre where the rural life could be enriched by utilising local resources and labour. Gandhiji wanted to make the villages economically, socially and politically empowered through this concept, so that along with the progress of the villages, the balanced development of the entire nation is possible. In his philosophy, self-reliance was not limited to economic activities, but also included the concepts of ethics, mutual cooperation and collective responsibility. The Panchayati Raj system provides an effective basis for putting into practice Gandhi’s idea of Gram Swaraj. The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution provided for a decentralised system of governance at the village level in the Panchayati Raj Institutions so constituted. Through this, rural communities can participate in policy decisions, identify public resources and make their priorities self-reliant - a process in line with Gandhiji’s principle of Swaraj. Financial rights to villages through Panchayati Raj, ability to take administrative decisions and legal autonomy so as to participate in local development activities. Implementation of MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission and other Government schemes can be done effectively with the help of Panchayati Raj Institutions, leading to self-reliance and citizen participation in villages. Gandhiji believed that under Gram Swaraj, people should have access to basic amenities like clean water, education, healthcare and sanitation at the local level. For this, it was considered necessary to combine traditional knowledge and modern technologies so that the rural economy is strengthened and the problem of migration is prevented. The Panchayati Raj system has proved to be extremely useful for this, as it provides an opportunity to find solutions to local problems at the local level itself. However, obstacles like corruption, political pressure and lack of resources also emerge in this journey, but these can be mitigated on the strength of collective consciousness and strong citizen participation. Thus, the combination of Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj and Panchayati Raj system is a meaningful effort to encourage self-reliance and democratic participation in rural India.