The law holds no water

The state holds water resources in trust; it exercises proprietory rights over them

Poll hurdles

Several problems ail the panchayat elections

Decentralisation snag

Lok Sabha passes Women’s Reservation Bill with two-thirds majority

Opposition leaders have flagged concerns about the timing of the bill’s passage as well as its eventual transition to the status of law

Divine protection

Kumaon villagers discover that gods are the best forest guards

People's power

In line of fire

Legislators' prize scheme

Participatory pangs

Local governments and the problem of development programmes

The joke

Decentralisation

Good bye, people's planning

The programme had little place in the debates of the recent Kerala panchayat elections

The state of welfare

Is the UPA government on social overdrive?

Unity in adversity

Bill must ensure power to the people

The political debate on the Panchayati Raj and Nagarpalika bills does not address the issue of giving power to the people so they can take …

For the people

Grassroot bodies should pressurise the state government to effectively implement the new Act on tribal self-rule passed by the Centre

Large promises

Prime Minister Vajpayee is terribly interested in rural development these days. On his birthday he inaugurated Swajaldhara, a nation-wide water …

Jharkhand to share mining profit

State to give 80 per cent of sand mine auction profit to panchayats

No funds for rural project

Stillborn law

Leaves tribals power-starved

Divisive move

Attempted panchayati raj reforms in Madhya Pradesh

Troubled start

Creation of panchayati raj ministry sparks row

'Empower us'

TN gram panchayats' plea to Union government

Tribals suffer

Ground report: How is Chhattisgarh’s ‘dung deal’ working

plan to purchase cow dung to boost rural economy, ensure clean villages and solve stray cattle problem saw initial success, but things …

The rulers nouveaux

Madhya Pradesh took a head-start in implementing the 3-tier panchayati raj. But lack of finances might just undo the transfer of power to the people

Gram sabha empowered

Anna Hazare's relentless crusade leads to ordinance granting more powers to the gram sabha in Maharashtra