TL;DR: Local governance is the third tier of government — panchayats in villages and municipalities in towns and cities. They look after water, roads, sanitation, street lights, and local development. Knowing how they work helps you raise issues in the right place.
Panchayats and municipalities: In villages, the gram panchayat (and block and district panchayats) handle local schemes and services. The gram sabha is a meeting of all voters — you can raise issues there. In towns and cities, the municipality (or municipal corporation) and ward councillors handle local services. Each ward often has a designated officer or helpline.
What you can do: (1) Attend gram sabha or ward meetings when you can. (2) For local issues, contact the panchayat office or ward councillor first. (3) Use the State or local grievance portal if the issue is not resolved. Our doc on Local Governance: Panchayats and Municipalities has more detail.
Related: Local Governance: Panchayats and Municipalities · Federal Structure: Centre and States
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