Rural governance is a structure through which rural areas are governed based on the constitutional framework, the dominant political ideology and historical precedent, creating best opportunities for shaping a vibrant future for rural communities. For a robust rural governance, the episodic and sporadic participation of people need to be converted into frequent.

Effective rural governance incorporates a variety of decision‐making and implementation practices by a wide range of people, organizations and institutions beyond government: non‐profit groups, religious organizations, community foundations, citizen alliances, community colleges, business associations and others. Moreover, effective rural governance incorporates community building: processes that develop leadership, enhance social capital and personal networks and strengthen a community’s capacity for improvement.

After the constitution came into force, Article 40 made a mention of panchayats and Article 246 empowers the state legislature to legislate with respect to any subject relating to local self-government. In fact, Panchayati Raj Institutions of self-government are the vehicles of socio-economic transformation in rural India. Effective and meaningful functioning of these bodies depends on active involvement, contribution and participation of its citizens both male and female. As a strategy, it is designed to improve the economic and social well-being of the specific group of people, particularly the rural poor.

Indeed, the degree of development that was needed for agriculture and allied activities, village and cottage industries, socio-economic infrastructure, community services and facilities, and above all, the human resource development are abysmal, though there are a number of rural development schemes in place. Though 73rd constitutional amendment, 1992 advocates for decentralization of power incorporating the three tier system, particularly to include women and disadvantaged groups in the decision making, the real empowerment of such people has not been covered aptly.

The course identifies basic facilities to be made available to villages as a strategy to develop Indian villages. It also delineates the way rural areas need to managed effectively so that problems related to socio-economic conditions of people at the grass can be improved.