Why do you think Panchayats are so important in our country?

The Panchayats have been conceived as development agencies. They aim at rural development by involving the rural community. Panchayati Raj strengthens the foundation of Indian democracy. It provides representation to the weaker sections of the society, namely, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and women. The Gram Panchayat maintains water sources, village wells, tanks and pumps, street lighting and drainage system. The Panchayati Raj system also reduces the burden of the State Governments. Though the Panchayati Raj System functions independently, it is the State Governments that formulates the rules and regulations regarding the functioning of the local self-government. Due to these reasons, the Panchayati Raj System is very important for the successful administration of a democratic country like India.