• The concept of participative democracy with its roots rising from villages is what had been  one of the biggest aims that Gandhi looked after India attained independence. For this  purpose, he wanted a proper development of social organizations at the rural level. According to MK Gandhi, “Independence must begin at the bottom. Thus, every  village will be a republic or panchayat having full powers. It follows, therefore, that  every village has to be self-sustained and capable of managing its affairs even to the  extent of defending itself against the whole world. It will be trained and prepared to  perish in the attempt to defend itself against any onslaught from outside.”
• Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj is an essential aspect in the Constitution – the Directive Principles of State Policy, Part IV of the Constitution, which acts as the guide to the State in planning and executing policies. The Gandhian thought in the Constitution includes Organisation of Village Panchayats (Article 40), promotion of cottage industries in rural areas (Article 43), management of cooperative societies (Article 43B), prohibition on the consumption of intoxicating drinks (Article 47) and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and improve their breeds (Article 48).

Importance of Community

• Gandhi claims that the real India is not found in its citizens but in the seven lakh villages, emphasising more on community rather than individualism. His belief in Panchayat Raj was so firm that he thought public opinion will do what violence can never do. In Gandhi’s model of Gram Swaraj there is no such system of punishment – the constituted Panchayat will play the role of Judiciary, Executive and Legislative, which give all the powers to the village panchayats. His idea states that every village is a republic of its own which has full powers and every village is capable of managing its own affairs.
• Gandhi talks about agriculture without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. He is clear that using organic manure will promote cleanliness and health. The Zero Budget natural farming, which consists of important factors like Jeevamrutha, Bijamitra, Acchadana (Mulching) and Whapasa, is inspired by Gandhi’s model of Gram Swaraj. It is part of organic farming and relies on agro-ecology.

Gram Swaraj has not materialized in its essence—

• Adoption of western model of industrialization: Gandhiji was conscious of the fact that far industrialization would destroy the Indian society by eliminating our decentralized rural industries. Gandhiji found the only way of bringing hope of good living to the rural people is by making the village the central place in the economic programme. But India adopted top down planning through Planning Commission.
• Gram Swaraj not on priority after independence: Gandhi wanted to revitalize village panchayata that would ensure direct democracy at the grassroots level. But in the Constitution of independent India revitalisation of village panchayat is primarily a matter of State Policy and it was mentioned only in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article40).
• Lack of power with local institution: The basic principle of village Swaraj as outlined by Gandhiji are trusteeship, swadeshi, full employment, bread labour, selfsufficiency, decentralisation, equality, Nai Talim etc. But true decentralization and inclusive development is still absent.
• Khadi: Khadi idea meant decentralization of production and distribution of the necessaries of life. Khadi has to play an important role in the village economy of India. However this sector lags behind powerloom sector.

 However Gram Swaraj has materialized in its essence in many ways—

• Constitutional status to Panchayat: The 73rd Amendment Act 1992, which came into effect on April 24, 1993, is a watershed in the decentralisation process. The most significant aspect of this amendment is that it bestowed constitutional sanction to institution of Gram Sabha. This body can be effectively used as a stepping stone for attainment of gram swaraj or local self governance visualized by Gandhi.
• Renewed focus on Khadi: Prime Minister''s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) has been announced on 15th August, 2008. It is launched for creation of employment in both rural and urban area of the country. Also SFURTI is a Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries has been launched in the year 2005 with the view to promote Cluster development.
• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): It is for developing and strengthening the capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for rural local governance to become more responsive towards local development needs, preparing the participatory plans that leverage technology, efficient and optimum utilization of available resources for realizing sustainable solutions to local problems.
• Article 243G of the Constitution Amendment Act needs to be quoted with regard to the autonomy of Panchayats:  Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to 

• the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
• the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.

       This Article of the Amendment Act is the head and heart of the entire scheme of devolution and it elevates Panchayats as institutions of self-government or a third level of government besides Central and State Governments.

Gandhiji believed that India will have to live in villages, not in towns, in huts not in palaces. He held this conviction by saying that "If village perishes, India will perish too”. The task before us is to strengthen and revitalize local institutions and gradually move forward towards the Gandhi’s concept of Gram Swaraj.