- By Mohit Kamboj
India's heart beats strongest in its villages. Nowhere is this more evident than in Maharashtra, where nearly 55% of the population resides in rural areas. While urban India dazzles with skylines and superhighways, true inclusive progress will be measured not by cityscapes but by how empowered our villages become. At the centre of this transformation lies a tool with immense but underutilised potential: rural self-governance.
Reimagining Panchayati Raj: From Framework to Force
The constitutional amendment of 1992 laid the groundwork for decentralised governance in India, bringing village councils, Gram Panchayats, to the forefront of rural decision-making. In Maharashtra, home to over 28,000 Gram Panchayats, this system has brought governance closer to the people. But Panchayat Raj must move beyond being an administrative layer, it should evolve into a dynamic force for change, equity and local ownership.
Self-governance, when rooted in trust and capability, enables rural communities to take control of their development priorities. Active Gram Sabhas -- transparent, inclusive and participatory -- can tackle a wide array of local challenges: water supply, school upkeep, sanitation, roads and primary healthcare. These issues are not footnotes in development, they are its foundation.
Why Rural Self-Governance is Central to India’s Growth Story
India cannot aspire to sustainable economic growth while its villages remain dependent, disconnected, or disenfranchised. Maharashtra’s rural economy is rich with potential, be it in agriculture, agri-tech, small-scale industries or tourism. But top-down schemes alone can’t unlock this promise. Local vision, driven by local leadership is the key.
Self-governance enables villages to craft tailored solutions. What works for a drought-hit village in Marathwada may not suit a flood-prone settlement in Konkan. When communities identify their priorities, be it constructing rainwater harvesting systems or digitising land records, they take ownership of implementation. The result? Better efficiency, reduced corruption and a stronger sense of collective responsibility.
A New Wave of Leadership: Women and Youth at the Helm
One of the most powerful outcomes of rural decentralisation has been the emergence of new leadership, especially women and youth. Thanks to progressive policies like reservation for women in Panchayats, Maharashtra now boasts a growing number of female sarpanchs who are transforming governance through a lens long ignored: maternal health, sanitation, child welfare and domestic safety.
Meanwhile, digital penetration has opened doors for rural youth to lead the next generation of governance. From e-Gram portals to smartphone-enabled grievance redressal systems, young, tech-savvy leaders are modernising how governance works at the grassroots.
The Roadblocks Ahead—and How to Overcome Them
Of course, the journey toward empowered self-governance is not without its challenges. Capacity gaps persist, many Gram Panchayat members lack training in planning, budgeting, and monitoring. In some regions, political interference and elite dominance undermine democratic participation.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. What is needed is consistent investment in training, digital tools and institutional safeguards. Strengthening local bodies requires more than funding; it requires belief in their ability to govern.
Maharashtra’s Moment: Turning Intent into Institutional Strength
The state government has taken promising steps through initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi Tanta Mukti Abhiyan, Mission Antyodaya and the Smart Village Program. But the next leap must be structural: embedding self-governance at the core of rural development strategy.
Imagine every Panchayat with a real-time digital dashboard. Annual social audits conducted by villagers themselves. Participatory budgeting sessions where every voice counts. These aren’t utopian ideas, they are achievable practices that can become the grammar of governance in rural Maharashtra.
The Bigger Picture: From Decentralisation to Dignity
If India is serious about becoming a USD 5 trillion economy, it must begin not with megacities but with its villages. Empowered Gram Panchayats are not just tools of decentralisation, they are instruments of dignity, democracy and development. They allow citizens to not just receive governance, but to shape it.
As someone deeply invested in India’s growth journey, I believe that rural Maharashtra has the power to lead by example. When villages become active agents of their own development, the entire nation rises with them.
Mohit Kamboj is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist dedicated to progress, unity, and transformative change across India