Village Panchayats in India

The Panchayati Raj institutions are intended for the realisation of objectives like democratic decentralisation. Politicisation and modernisation through democratically elected leadership in Indian rural society. Therefore, the fulfilment of these great objectives depend to a large extent on the creative leadership of these institutions. The aim of this book which is based on an empirical study is to unfold the leadership pattern in the village panchayats of Assam and their role in the realisation of the above objectives of Panchayati Raj. It includes discussion both from theoretical and applied aspects of the subject. It is observed that there exists a gap between the theory and practice of Panchayati Raj. If these institutions have to play an effective role in the transformation of rural society some urgent steps need to be taken to invigorate the Panchayati Raj institutions in the country. The study is likely to be of immense value to the academics and policy makers.

Dr. (Mrs.) N.L. Dutta (b. 1951), presently Reader & Head in the Department of Political Science, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, is a seasoned teacher of more than fifteen years standing. She had a uniformly brilliant academic career. She took her M.A. with a first class from Gauhati University in 1972. She has contributed a number of articles on various aspects of Political Science to a number of Journals of repute. She is also a coauthor of the book-Election Politics in Assam.