Gram Panchayat Research Articles

Impact Of Road Connectivity On Daily Livelihood Sustainability Of Commuters In Sandeshkhali-I CD Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Background: The study area has different infrastructural deficiencies with compare to other regions. The natural constraints for communication, Poverty, Infrastructural deficiency, Rurality, and Transportation barriers are the main problems in this region. This study has tried to determine the different road connectivity and their impacts on daily sustainable livelihoods among the commuters of Sandeshkhali-I CD block in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: The study has used the Primary and Secondary data to fulfill the objectives. To execute the objectives, road networks are differentiated to measure the road connectivity indices (Alpha, Beta and Gamma Index) from different Gram Panchayats (GPs) to find out the road network condition in this rural deltaic region of the Indian Sundarban. Using the Random sampling to collect the primary data through questionnaire from commuters at different busiest places in the study area. Based on different selected livelihood components, the daily livelihood sustainability index has been evaluated. To find out the relationship the road connectivity Indices (R.C.I.) and daily livelihood sustainability index (D.L.S.I.) are correlated with the help of Karl Person ‘r’ value. Results: The highest values of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Indices are 0.34, 1.89 and 0.65 with respect to Metalled and Unmetalled roads. The daily livelihood sustainability index value has been found 54.33 and 17.54 as the highest and lowest respectively. The positive and negative values are present in the correlation between R.C.I. and D.L.S.I. Conclusion: From the outcome, most of the GPs are under the low and very low livelihood sustainability category whereas, the rest of the GPs have medium to high livelihood sustainability status as per selected class. The study concluded that the development needs to be accounted for because of intra-regional imbalance among the road connectivity as well as daily livelihood sustainability that has already existed in this area

Implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009): A Case Study of Polba Gram Panchayat, West Bengal

The vision of the Indian New Education Policy (2020) is to provide greater access, equity, excellence, inclusion, and affordability of children to help India emerge as a knowledge superpower. In the present context, a case study has been conducted at the Polba Gram Panchayat (GP) of Hooghly District of West Bengal to study the status of implementation of the Right to Education (RTE), Act, 2009. The qualitative data are collected and analyzed from 30 villages of the said GP under 13 Mouzas having 26 habitations. According to the Census Report, 2011, the population in the Polba Panchayat is found 20,084, of which males comprise 10,150 and females 9,934. The data is collected from Panchayat office records on RTE implementation strategies and Focus Group Discussions are conducted to collect analytical data for the study. It is concluded that most of the village people are living with the hope that one day their dream of securing holistic education for all children - irrespective of their class, color, or creed - will be fulfilled. This is in fact the very essence of Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. However, there is a conclusive evidence from the study to prove that the hiatus between what is laid down by law and the ground realities is alarmingly colossal. Regarding the implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 the ideal RTE Act at the grass-root level has resulted in the path-breaking Act becoming unfortunately much less effective in some places than what it was intended to be.

Samras in Gram Panchayats of Gujarat: Undermining Democracy by Means of Consensus?

Among the 10,118 Gram Panchayats (GP) in Gujarat that were going to general/mid-term elections and by-elections, 1,267 were declared ‘samras gams (villages)’ on December 7, 2021, the last day of withdrawal of nomination. Samras gams are those villages where a sarpanch and all the ward members are chosen by consensus by not going to polls. They become eligible to receive monetary benefits for the development works. If the choice of the people in the elections held in two decades since the inception of the scheme is observed, it suggests that just about 20 per cent of the GPs prefer samras. The major criticism of the concept has been that government-backed financial incentives undermine the concept of free and fair elections. Besides, it is found that the elites who have a grip on the village economy in the respective GP constituencies decide to go for samras, which indirectly results in the denial of political rights to the socio-economically weaker section of people. The political parties may have introduced the scheme with the best of intentions to halt the regular reporting of violence erupting after the elections in the villages and affecting the development process in the GPs. However, after weighing the merits and demerits of the scheme on the ground, scrapping it altogether appears to be an ideal move to continue with the democratic spirit at the local level of governance.

Sustainable Economic Impact of Seed Replacement Rate on Production of Mustard Seed: A Case Study on Murshidabad District of West Bengal, India

"Quality Seeds are the critical determinant of different agro-climatic zones for sustainable planning in agricultural production. It is necessary to raise the supply of quality seeds of different crops in sufficient quantity at reasonable prices for farmers at the right time in the state. New seeds are either Certified Seeds (CS) or Hybrid Seeds. A better Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) presents a better application of Certified or Quality Seed or Hybrid Varieties Seeds (HYV). It plays a major role in agriculture to raise the production of crops. In this research paper, we have analysed the impact of Seed Replacement Rate on the production of Mustard Seeds during the period 2022-23 in the Jarur Gram Panchayat (GP) of Block Raghunathganj-I, Murshidabad District, West Bengal. The data have been collected by the stratified random sampling procedure. With the help of collected data, we have formed a Coob-Douglas Type of production function and which is estimated by the Ordinary Least Square Method. From the collected data, it has been observed that the average Seed Replacement Rate is 38.52 percent which is below the state average (53.2%). We have also noticed that 30.43 percent farmers have used farm-saved seeds and only 17.4 percent farmers have used hundred percent new seeds. The estimated result has proved that Seed Replacement Rate is a key determinant to raise both production, productivity and economic benefits. If Seed Replacement increases production also will increase and thereby there would be economic leverage. It has also been found that farm size with Seed Replacement Rate is not a significant factor in increasing the production of Mustard Seeds. Another interesting finding is that seventy percent of farmers have used inorganic fertilizers. They have applied excessive chemical fertilizers which is greater than the government’s prescribed norm. However, from the estimated result we have observed that the Seed Replacement Rate according to different farm sizes with excessive application of fertilizers does not influence both the production and productivity of Mustard Seeds. From an economic standpoint of view, new seeds are better than farm-saved seeds (old seeds) as their gross income increases."

Optimizing Crop Yield Estimation through Geospatial Technology: A Comparative Analysis of a Semi-Physical Model, Crop Simulation, and Machine Learning Algorithms

This study underscores the critical importance of accurate crop yield information for national food security and export considerations, with a specific focus on wheat yield estimation at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level in Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, using technologies such as machine learning algorithms (ML), the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model and semi-physical models (SPMs). The research integrates Sentinel-2 time-series data and ground data to generate comprehensive crop type maps. These maps offer insights into spatial variations in crop extent, growth stages and the leaf area index (LAI), serving as essential components for precise yield assessment. The classification of crops employed spectral matching techniques (SMTs) on Sentinel-2 time-series data, complemented by field surveys and ground data on crop management. The strategic identification of crop-cutting experiment (CCE) locations, based on a combination of crop type maps, soil data and weather parameters, further enhanced the precision of the study. A systematic comparison of three major crop yield estimation models revealed distinctive gaps in each approach. Machine learning models exhibit effectiveness in homogenous areas with similar cultivars, while the accuracy of a semi-physical model depends upon the resolution of the utilized data. The DSSAT model is effective in predicting yields at specific locations but faces difficulties when trying to extend these predictions to cover a larger study area. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers by providing near-real-time, high-resolution crop yield estimates at the local level, facilitating informed decision making in attaining food security.

Does Child-friendly Gram Panchayats Mean Good Governance? An Analysis of 10 Gram Panchayats in Karnataka

A ‘Gram Panchayat (GP)’ is the lowest tier of self-government within the Panchayati Raj Institutions and is entrusted with critical responsibilities such as poverty alleviation, delivery of welfare measures, primary education, empowerment of marginalised communities, etc. Apart from these, GPs are also endowed with responsibilities with respect to the empowerment of women and welfare of children. The article proposes to develop a comprehensive framework that can help in analysing the underpinnings of what makes a GP child friendly. The framework is further extended to the overall governance of a GP as well. The institutional capability and governance of 10 GPs of Karnataka have been examined in detail using this framework.

Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals Through Panchayati Raj Institutions

Gram panchayats (GPs), being constitutionally mandated and closest to the people, can anchor the responsibility of localising the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving them by the year 2030. In this article, published reports have been used for analysing state-wise status of SDGs achievements and their correlations with attainments in areas of poverty-reduction and other developmental indicators. Also, progress made by GPs on various metrics related to SDGs has been corroborated with other relevant metrics. For effective functioning and service-delivery capacity of panchayats, it is necessary that they are sufficiently empowered with functions and responsibilities as per aspirations of the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, 1993, strengthened with basic infrastructure and technical manpower to harness the full potential of digitisation and also incentivised for augmenting their own sources of revenue.

Finances of Gram Panchayats in West Bengal: Disparities and Determinants

Acknowledging the importance of fiscal decentralisation, this paper evaluates the fiscal performances of all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Birbhum and North 24 Parganas of West Bengal and identifies the determinants of disparities in their fiscal performances. Our analysis reveals that smaller GPs generate greater own source revenues per person, receive higher grants per person and spend more per person. Several factors including demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics and geographical locations shape the needs and priorities of the GPs and, therefore, are important for explaining the variations in their fiscal performances. The regression results reveal that willingness to pay taxes is greater among literate people and also the incidence of expenditure is significantly higher for GPs with higher literacy rates. The proportion of agricultural labour and concentration of scheduled caste/scheduled tribes population in the GPs show a negative impact on the collection of own source revenue and also on per capita expenditure but a positive impact on the grants and transfers received from higher levels of governments.

Decentralization, Governance and Public Service Systems in Tribal Areas of Odisha: A Sociological Perspective

The grassroots government’s top priority is to offer basic amenities to its citizens for their life and livelihood, resulting in the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized populations who are still denied socioeconomic benefits. Involvement of local people in the planning, execution and monitoring of many rural development programmes is also essential. The presence of staffing shortages in some Gram Panchayats (GPs) has created a problematic scenario for the correct implementation and effective monitoring mechanism to be carried out in the GPs since the workload has much exceeded expectations. As a result, welfare activities in rural areas are hampered by a lack of social capital and the capabilities of designated staff. An in-depth examination of this essential topic reveals the rationale for introspection to refocus on Decentralization, Governance and Public Service Systems in tribal areas of Odisha.

Are Women Empowered in India? A Perspective of Women Participation in Mgnrega From Ladnu Block of Rajasthan, India

Women empowerment is about promoting their sense of self-worth and ability to make choices which may create social influence in society. Moreover, it emphasises sharing equal responsibility in the family as well as society in terms of accessing their choices without any hindrances, contributing economically to the family and society, and representing equally everywhere in the process of development. World’s largest employment guarantee programme, i.e. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has provisioned providing 100 days of jobs to one-third of women in the country to ensure livelihood security and asset creation. The current paper tries to highlight the experiences of the beneficiaries from Ladnu block of Rajasthan about their improved lifestyles in terms of qualitative research and suggests ways to bridge the existing gaps to achieve the goal. In other words, it tries to explore whether women, as a beneficiary of the MGNREGA, are contributing to the programme or not, and creating assets for maintaining a better lifestyle. To answer this question, a blended methodology was implemented in two villages of Ladnu block of Rajasthan with 97 respondents. The results are positive from the numbers; however, to achieve the real goal of the Act, the government must actively mull over creating awareness among the community through Gram Panchayat (GP), orient the GP members towards implementing the Act with transparency, timely payment, increase the wage as per the inflation rate and converge different schemes with MGNREGA .

Clientelistic politics and pro-poor targeting: Rules versus discretionary budgets

Past research has provided evidence of clientelistic politics by local governments in delivery of private good benefits and manipulation of local budgets by elected officials at upper tiers. Using household panel survey data spanning 1998–2008 in West Bengal, India, we examine the consequences of replacing the observed allocation of local government, or gram panchayat (GP), program budgets based on discretion of higher level officials, with a grant allocation determined by a formula recommended by the 3rd West Bengal State Finance Commission (SFC) based on measures of village need. We assume that the allocation of benefits within GPs continues to be delegated to elected GP officials. We use the household data to classify them as ultra-poor, moderately poor, marginally poor, and non-poor respectively, depending on the number of deprivation dimensions applicable (landlessness, illiteracy and low caste status). In the next step, we estimate within-GP targeting patterns for different programs across these four groups, and how they are affected by the program grant received by the GP from upper tiers. This allows us to predict how targeting patterns would have changed, had the observed across-GP grant allocations been replaced by the formula-based allocation. We find that targeting of anti-poverty programs was progressive both within and across GPs while the targeting of public goods was not. This pattern is consistent with clientelistic opportunism of upper level officials. The SFC-rule based formula resulted in allocations that were less progressive than the observed allocation. Moreover, alternative formulae for across-GP budgets obtained by varying weights on GP characteristics used in the formula would have marginally improved pro-poor targeting. Hence, it is unlikely that switching to SFC formula-based grants would have improved pro-poor targeting.

Assessment of the tube-well water quality: A micro-level case study from Lower Gangetic Plain (LGP) in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India

The purpose of this study is to investigate the quality of tubewell water (TW) in Barasat-I (Community Development Block) under North 24 Parganas District of Lower Gangetic Plain (LGP), West Bengal, India with respect to suitability for drinking purpose. This is the first micro-level ground water related study in this region. In total twenty (20) groundwater (GW) samples from tube-wells at different locations of nine (09) Gram Panchayats (GP) were collected and analyzed. The results have been compared with the Indian standard (IS) for drinking water based on eight parameters, such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), conductivity, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), chloride (Cl), and arsenic (As). Moreover, TDS (50%) and Total Hardness (TH) (90%) were found to be above the desirable limit. However, pH, Chloride, has been found to be within the permissible limit. This micro-level study revealed that high contamination with arsenic of GW has been identified on the middle to eastern side of Barasat-I. As is found to be above acceptable limit at 70% sampling points. Therefore, rural people of the eastern side of the Barasat-I are prone to a higher risk of black-foot disease due to higher level of As. Overall, the groundwater in this block is not suitable and fit for direct drinking. It needs treatment to minimize pollution or contamination, where regular monitoring and analysis is recommended to determine the extent of contamination in the other parts of LGP. The findings of this study will be beneficial to manage and control ground water vulnerability in micro-level for water scientists, policy makers, and researchers as well in sustainable way and must be achieved by 2030.

FiWi network planning for WiFi enabled gram panchayats of India: A frame work using component placement optimization

Fiber Wireless (FiWi) access network consists of high speed passive optical network (PON) at back end and wireless mesh network at front end. It is emerging as the most prominent access network due to its inherent feature. It may provide fast Internet services at minimum possible cost. Many of the villages of the India are still not connected with high speed network hence the present paper provides FiWi network planning for creating the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) enabled villages (Gram Panchayats) of India. The main aim of the paper is to deploy the cost effective FiWi network to provide the faster internet services at reasonable prices to the users of the gram panchayat (GP) in India. The area of the GP and the user’s location in particular GP is taken as input for network planning. The proposed planning provides the optimized position of wireless routers and Optical Network Units (ONUs) in terms of latitude and longitude. For optimizing position of wireless router and ONUs, we propose to use customized Slime Mould algorithm (SMA). We considered four gram panchayats of Indore region of India to make them WiFi enabled using FiWi access network. The customized SMA algorithm provides the best possible position and number of wireless routers and ONUs to connect all the users of gram panchayat. Beside, the total fiber length from the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) to all the ONUs and total cost estimation is also given to create the complete network.

Hydrochemical investigation of groundwater and probabilistic health risk assessment from fluoride and iron intake in a ferruginous Barind tract

ABSTRACT Hydrochemical properties of groundwater (n = 32) collected from eight Gram Panchayats (GP) in Kushmandi Block of South Dinajpur District in West Bengal, India and human health risk posed by groundwater fluoride (F−) and iron (Fe) are reported. About 18% and 28.7% of the collected water samples exceeded the permissible limits for F− and Fe, respectively, as per prescribed potable water quality standards of WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards. Total Dissolved Solid in groundwater never exceeded the acceptable limit of 500 mg l −1 (maximum value was 301.6 mg l −1) while NO3- ranged from near zero to 17.8 mg l−1, never exceeding the safe limit of 45 mg l−1. Hydrogeochemical analyses revealed the dominance of Ca/Na-bicarbonate type water throughout the Block and indicated that fluorite (CaF2) could be the most prominent source of F− in groundwater. Non-carcinogenic health risk index due to exposure to F− was more than unity in infants, children and adults in the order of HQChildren>HQInfant>HQAdult. Sensitivity analysis to ascertain non-carcinogenic human health risk of F− through multi-exposure pathways undertaken by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation (Oracle Crystal Ball, version 11.1.2.4.850) indicated that concentration of F− and Fe (Ci), their ingestion rate (IR), and exposure duration (ED) were the most influential governing factors behind non-carcinogenic health risks posed by F− and Fe consumption. Groundwater was rated as having ‘Low’ irrigation water quality (Sodium Adsorption Ratio, SAR <10 and Residual Sodium Carbonate, RSC of 0.41–2.88). Other important parameters of irrigation water quality, such as electrical conductivity (maximum 409 μS cm−1) and chloride (maximum 30.8 mg l−1), were also well within the recommended safe limits.

Crop Yield Estimation at Gram Panchayat Scale by Integrating Field, Weather and Satellite Data with Crop Simulation Models

Advanced technologies can improve the operational implementation of the Indian national crop insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), particularly in terms of accuracy and timeliness of the crop yield estimates that are used to determine yield losses at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level. In this study, conducted as a pilot test for PMFBY during the kharif season of 2018, technologies based on the Terrestrial Observation and Prediction System (TOPS) were tested and implemented for estimating GP-level crop yields of bajra (pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum) in Firozabad District of Uttar Pradesh and rice (Oryza sativa) in Kendujhar District of Odisha. A combination of Synthetic Aperture Radar and optical data was used to map crop extent. Daily 2-km grids of input weather conditions were generated using a machine learning algorithm that incorporated station observations, satellite data, and reanalysis model outputs. Required crop biophysical estimates of leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) were derived using daily cloud-screened MODIS 250-m data from the Terra and Aqua satellites and a modified MOD15 LAI/FPAR backup algorithm. A light-use-efficiency (LUE) model adapted from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) algorithm (MOD17-GPP/NPP) was then used to spatially estimate crop yields. Crop extent maps, daily climate and gap-filled FPAR and the LUE model were used to estimate above-ground biomass, which was accumulated over the growing season and converted to crop yields using a crop-specific harvest index. The estimated yields at 250 m were aggregated within each GP and compared with crop yield data from crop cutting experiments (CCEs) conducted in 142 GPs for rice and 42 GPs for bajra. Crop extent mapping was 96% accurate in rice and 80% in bajra when validated with field surveys. A comparison of modeled yields with CCE yields showed a promising performance by the model in both crops (rice: r = 0.80, root-mean-square error (RMSE) = 411 kg/ha, mean absolute error (MAE) = 359 kg/ha, percent error (PE) = 7, Observed mean = 1500 kg/ha; Bajra: r = 0.84, RMSE = 309 kg/ha, MAE = 262 kg/ha, PE = −12.8, Observed mean = 1859 kg/ha). Although the approach showed promising results for both crops, further progress is needed to ensure consistent and reliable results. Some of the needed improvements include incorporating a dynamic crop calendar, improved maximum LUE estimates, and harvest index values that represent crop varietals grown in India. Routinely conducted CCEs in different crops and seasons around the country could provide a valuable resource for improving these parameters and, ultimately, crop yield estimates.

Role of Women in Local Government in Panchayat Raj Institutions: A Rhetoric or Reality

In 21st century there are five pillars of development namely Women empowerment, Youth advancement, intervention of Digital technology, Gender equality and rising trend of Subalterns and Marginalised sections of society. Having setting the bearings of priorities, Women empowerment is the key domain in the Role of women in local government in Panchayati Raj Institutions which finds its prominent role in the sustainable development in society. There are 29 power point programmes have been entrusted in the Panchayat institutions in Haryana at three tier system. The 73rd amendment Act in Haryana Panchayati Raj System becomes a vehicle of social change and acts as The Harbinger of Women’s engendering the Panchayati Raj Institutions since its inception in 1994. The Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994 provides for reservation of one third of elected seats for Women at three levels i.e. Gram Panchayat (G.P.) Panchayat Smiti (P.S.) and Zila Prishad (Z.P.) There is also one third reservations for women to the seats of chairpersons of these PRIs. These women include general and scheduled castes. This act further provides for reservation of one third seats for Schedule castes women out of total seats reserved for schedule castes in proportion to S.C. population. The engendering Panchayati Raj Institutions in Haryana requires rigorous regimen of total overhauling of social structure per se. In fact, engendering Panchayati Raj Institution in Haryana is a euphemistic concept. The PRIs are in infantile stage and lack in all encompassing approach. Bluntly stating, women are still at a periphery of progress in the eyes of policy makers and decision takers.

Towards Fine-Scale Yield Prediction of Three Major Crops of India Using Data from Multiple Satellite

There is enormous scope and prospective of crop yield prediction at finer scale for both farm-level crop management as well as for crop insurance settlement at gram panchayat (GP) level in India. Now with the advent of satellite sensors like the MSI from Sentilnel-2 with fine spatial resolution, the possibility of generating frequent information on crop condition at field scale is increasing. This study demonstrated the combined use of high-resolution data from Sentinel-2 (10 m and 20 m); moderate-resolution data from MODIS (500 m) and coarser-resolution radiation data from INSAT-3D (4 km) for estimating yield of three major crops of India at GP and taluka level using a semi-physical model based on crop-specific radiation use efficiency. The novelty of this study lies in the data fusion approach using parameters from multiple spatial resolution of Geostationary and Lower Earth Orbiting satellites within the basic semi-physical model framework. The methodology has been demonstrated in Cuttack district of Odisha for rice; Rajkot district of Gujarat for cotton; and Indore district of MP and Fatehabad district of Haryana for wheat. We validated our result at GP, taluka and district level. At GP level, the root mean square error (RMSE) was found to be 16.5% for rice and 5.8% for wheat in Indore district. At taluka level, the RMSE was found to be 15%, 5.7%, 4.4% and 7.4% for rice, wheat in Indore district, wheat in Fatehabad district and cotton, respectively. The study concluded that high resolution remote sensing data would be of immense use for finer scale yield estimation, which can be aggregated at GP and taluka level with satisfactory accuracy (p = 95%).

Development and psychometric testing of the FLW-MSC scale for measuring frontline worker multisectoral collaboration in rural India

ObjectivesMultisectoral collaboration (MSC) is widely recognised as a critical aspect of policies, programmes and interventions addressing complex public health issues, yet it is undertheorised and difficult to measure. Limited understanding...

Social Grievances and Corporate Greed: Twenty20 and Conflicts in Kizhakkambalam

The theoretical framework of greed and grievance provides a perspective for understanding conflicts in a social set-up that comprises competing interests. The greed of a section of a society to maximise its control over resources (social, political and economic) is often combined with the grievances of sections that are deprived of their shares of the resources. Even within such considerations, the positions of greed and grievance are fluidic in any conflict and are a critical factor in the manufacturing and sustaining of conflicts. The Kizhakkambalam Gram Panchayat (GP) in Kerala offers one such opportunity to investigate and explore the conflicts arising from the interactive and shifting nature of greed and grievances. Based on an ethnographic survey of the GP, this study highlights and investigates the role of a corporate functionary, Twenty20, and its interactions with the local population. The study argues that the dominance of the Twenty20 in local politics through electoral victory achieved by leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives is seen to be oscillating between being perceived as a product for managing social grievances and as a product for actualising corporate greed. The interactive and fluidic nature of greed and grievances creates tensions among multiple actors and leads to conflicts in the GP.

Availability and Utilization of Sanitation Facilities: A Micro Study from Rural Tamil Nadu

About 4 billion citizens around the world lack access to proper sanitation, meaning they are forced to practice open defecation. The health consequences for those living without using toilets are severe. Approximately 480,000 children under5 year age die annually from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and a lack of access to proper sanitation. That’s almost 2,000 kids a day. In developing countries like India, 57 per cent of households do not have a toilet. And in Tamil Nadu mainly, it was at 52 per cent. In India, civil societies and local government play a vital role in rural development, and they are responsible for transforming the socio-economic features of the villages in India. The central and state governments are implementing many schemes like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), and so on to protect child and women’s health. Both governments to give reward for full achievement of gram panchayats like Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) and reward up to Rs. 10 lakhs. Tamil Nadu provides an award with for Clean Village Campaign (CVC), and the reward is Rs. 5 lakhs at the state government level, The present study focuses on the availability and utilisation of sanitation facilities in Manjakuttai gram panchayat (GP). This GP awarded NGP in 2008. So the present paper contains the importance and need of the study, literature review, objectives of the study, methodology, general observation, rural sanitation etc.; An attempt is made, to study the sanitation facilities in general and particular to study the Manjakuttai GP of Yercaud block in Salem district, Tamil Nadu.