Abstract

In India, the Gram Sabha is a constitutionally mandated organisation meant to strengthen grassroots governance through increased participation in the democratic process. However, while there is great potential for increased participation in Gram Sabha, the reality for many villages is that only a small number of villagers attend the Gram Sabha. The purpose of this research study was to identify the factors that contributed to the low level of participation in Gram Sabha meetings amongst the residents of Sawombung Gram Panchayat, Imphal East District, Manipur. A mixed method design was used for this study and included a household survey, personal interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and direct observation of the Gram Sabha. The total number of respondents included individuals of all socio-economic strata who were over 18 years of age. The research data revealed that many factors contributed to the low level of participation in the Gram Sabha. These findings demonstrate the need to improve the level of communication between government officials and community members as well as to create opportunities for more people to be included in decision negotiations through community meetings and develop a greater awareness of the function of the Gram Sabha.