Grassroots democracy
Topic: Democracy: Forms of Government, Principles and Outcomes · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 10 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance"; Class 6, Ch 11 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"
Meaning
Grassroots democracy means ordinary people deciding local matters themselves, close to where they live. It works through panchayats (village councils), municipalities (town and city councils), and village or ward assemblies. Its constitutional base is Part IX of the Constitution for panchayats and Part IXA for municipalities. It matters because it brings democracy down to the village and the ward, and not only to elections for Parliament and state assemblies.
Example
In 2019, Jethipura in Sabarkantha, Gujarat, won the Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar. It won for holding well-run gram sabhas and Mahila Sabhas (meetings of village women).
Don't confuse with
- Participatory democracy: grassroots democracy is about the level, which is local. Participatory democracy is about the method: citizens taking part directly in decisions, which can happen at any level.