India, April 28 -- Panchayati systems are considered to be the fundamental pillar of local administration because it provides rural people with direct participation in the country's democratic process. The provision of local self-government has been in India since ancient times. In Indian democracy, since Independence, Panchayati systems were given their due importance for which different models were adopted. Mahatma Gandhi's ideology regarding the Panchayati Raj system was that the village panchayats should be made solid and self-sufficient so that they conduct all administrative activities at the village level. This is why the makers of the Indian Constitution had added separate provisions for this.

India is the largest democratic coun...