Participatory Development and Governance in Rural India: A Case Study of Palli Sabha in Odisha

Participatory development in rural India has received special significance in recent years following institutionalisation of participatory democracy through the Seventy Third Constitutional Amendment of India. Although the constitutional amendment has sought to institutionalise villagers participation through a body called Palli Sabha/Gram Sabha, some states like Kerala, Rajasthan and West Bengal and Odisha have created new institutions closer to the villagers to ensure participation of the citizens. The present paper seeks to analyse the working of the Palli Sabhas as participatory development democratic institutions in Odisha. The study was carried out purely based on primary survey with individual interviews and participant observations also were employed. The study has found the lack of awareness among the villagers about the usefulness of the meetings and flow of inadequate developmental funds from government leading to lack of interest among villagers. Adequate participation of people in the village assembly is the key to success of any participatory development process. The findings of the study indicate that the basic purpose of holding of Palli Sabha meetings is still to be achieved. And there is still a long way to go.