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Synopsis Panchayati Raj was in existence during the Vedic period in ancient India and worked well as the people carried out their personal and official duties based on dharma. After Independence, the Government of India, under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi, was committed to set up Panchayati Raj system to provide real swaraj to the people of rural areas. The dream of decentralization of power in order to empower people at the grassroot level, particularly, to enable rural masses to join the mainstream and claim rightful participation in the process of their own development and governance attained its fulfillment on April 24, 1993. the people of India took over four decades to realize this dream of Mahatma Gandhi. To familiarize a reader with Panchayati Raj institutions and empowerment of women, the book is spread over six chapters. Besides, the detailed bibliography would certainly interest researchers working in this field. The present volume shall provide the necessary base and intellectual stimulus for a more informed debate in working out the future policies and approaches towards democratic decentralization and Panchayati Raj in our country. The book deals with the historical context and examines current issues and would be of much use to research scholars, policy makers, planners, decision-makers, elected members o the Panchayat as well as students in universities and others interested in the concerned subjects.