The Panchayat. Democracy at the doorstep.
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The Panchayat
Democracy at the doorstep
The elected village council, the smallest unit of government in India.
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India has about 2.5 lakh panchayats. They are the smallest unit of elected government. In a panchayat, your neighbours govern your village. The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave them constitutional status and reserved one-third of all seats for women. Today, India has more elected women representatives at the local level than any other country.
- Panchayats handle local roads, water supply, sanitation, and primary education in rural areas.
- There are three tiers: village (Gram Panchayat), block (Panchayat Samiti), and district (Zila Parishad).
Ministry of Panchayati Raj data
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