Dear Student,
The following points may help you:
a. The very idea of community participation has certainly got endorsed by our Political leadership and got reflected in the concept of Democratic Decentralisation with a three tier system for local self government from village to the district level, with adequate transfer of power, responsibilities and resources to these institutions.
b. 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments acts of 1992 which provided constitutional status to these local self governing bodies have proved to be landmark.
c. The presence of panchyats have provided for the devolution of powers between the centre, state and local bodies.
d. It has provided for effective participation of people at the grass root level
e. It has expanded the very notion of democracy as it takes it to the grass root level making democracy inclusive and representative in nature.
f. By virtue of of reservation of seats for SC's , ST's and women, there has been active participation of the weaker sections of the society. Women for instance in Panchayats in Maharashtra have become sarpanchas also.
g. The presence of panchayats have inculcated a sense of planning and better management of resources in the people at the grass root level and have made democracy more inclusive in nature.
h. It has given due recognition to country's diverse population allowing diverse groups within the states to participate in the governance of the country.
However, there are ceratain problems which have hampered the working of local governemnt and required to be dealt with:
i. Issues related to caste, illiteracy continue to haunt our society and hampers the functioning of local bodies.
ii. Local MLA'S are also likely to intervene in the functioning of these local bodies fielding their own candidates.
iii.Then there are problems related nepotism , favouritism which affects their working.
iv.. Lack of adequate resources continues to remain perennial problem faced by them.
v. Ensuring regular, free and fair elections is indeed a colossal task.
i. It is indeed imporatnt to note that ideal self governemnt is utpion concet, one can only strive to make it better through constant participation and reforms
Regards