The Panchayati Raj system

Like every village in India, Lakshmanpur has a system of local government called the 'Panchayat', which means a village council.

Panchayats bring governance closer to the people, so that they can take an active part in making decisions. That is why the Panchayat system, also called Panchayati Raj, is a form of self-government: the people being governed and the people deciding are the same people.

Panchayats play a vital role in solving local problems, promoting development, and making sure that the benefits of government schemes reach the grassroots (ordinary people at the bottom).

The Panchayati Raj system works at three levels, from the bottom up: the village, the block and the district. This is called a 'three-tier system'. The book draws it as a pyramid standing on the village, not hanging down from the district.

• At village level: the Gram Panchayat (or Village Parishad).
• At block level: the Block Panchayat, also called the Panchayat Samiti or Mandal Parishad.
• At district level: the District Panchayat, or Zila Parishad.

The names vary from State to State; the shape does not.

Together, these bodies look after almost every part of life in the district: agriculture, housing, roads, water, education, health care, social welfare and even cultural activities. Look back at Lakshmanpur's needs (water, road, school): every one of them is on this list.