How empowered village mukhiyas can lead India to development by 2047
India has over 250,000 panchayats, each led by a democratically elected Sarpanch or Village Mukhiya. This structure represents a vibrant grassroots democracy. As we look ahead to 2047—the centenary of independence—empowering Village Mukhiyas with greater agency will be essential to realizing the vision of a developed India.
India has bestowed power with the PM (Prime Minister), the CM (Chief Minister), and ultimately reaches DM (District Magistrates). To achieve the status of a developed nation by 2047, it is equally important to empower VM or Village Mukhiyas as an authority to foster a citizen-centric approach to local governance.
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The 73rd Constitutional Amendment recognized panchayats as a key institution of local governance in 1992. Village Mukhiyas play a leading role in developing annual development plans with input from citizen representatives. For effective local sustainable development, it is crucial for the Central and State Governments, along with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, to empower Village Mukhiyas by devolving functions, providing financial resources, and ensuring interdepartmental coordination at the panchayat level.
Village Mukhiyas and SDG Goals
India is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and localizing these goals at the panchayat level is essential for success. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has categorized 17 SDGs into nine thematic areas, enabling panchayats to align their development plans.
As heads of local governments, Village Mukhiyas play a crucial role in promoting Localised SDGs (LSDGs) through annual development plans. Until 2022, the focus of these efforts was primarily on infrastructure and water projects. However, with the introduction of LSDG themes, planning has become more focused. A survey of 800 panchayats showed that while many themes are still chosen by Block officials or state guidelines, a growing number of Village Mukhiyas are actively participating in theme selection.
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Some themes have naturally drawn more attention. For example, 38% of panchayats prioritized Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods. At the same time, there is increasing recognition of the need to strengthen the focus on areas such as Health (4%) and Education (3%). With continued support and capacity building, Village Mukhiyas are well-placed to balance these priorities and lead holistic development in their villages.
Village Mukhiya as a Pillar of Convergence
All challenges at the village level are interconnected. For example, when a 13-year-old girl drops out of school, her story is rarely about a single issue. The reasons may range from menstruation, poverty, migration, early marriage, or just the absence of a toilet. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated approach.
If financial hardship is a factor, the department of Social Justice and other departments has schemes to provide scholarships. If health is a concern, the department of Health can take lead. For families affected by migration, programs like NREGA from the department of Rural Development can offer support.
Village Mukhiyas, as central coordinating bodies at the village level can act as a bridge between citizens and government programs. When ministries collaborate under the leadership of the Mukhiya, the panchayat transforms from a local body into a local solution provider. This convergence can vitalise India's decentralised democracy.
Building Leadership for the Future
There is immense potential for building the capacity of Mukhiyas. India invests in leadership at every level, from corporate to community. Thus, it is equally important to build institutions for Village Mukhiyas. While India has world-class institutions like IITs and IIMs for engineers and managers, we now need a Centre for Decentralized Democracy that would be dedicated to empowering local governance not just in India but across the developing world. This way, India will take Gandhi's idea of Gram Swaraj to the world.
Systematic capacity building programs for Mukhiyas have started showing positive results. For instance, Village Mukhiya Jyoti Devi, developed a tailored development plan and launched a campaign that significantly increased school attendance. She also launched an Aadhaar enrolment drive, helping many citizens in the village access essential government services. Her success was not by chance–it was enabled through a structured capacity building and her own dedication to serve the citizen.
The Road to 2047
Imagine the scale of transformation if every Village Mukhiya was similarly equipped—not just with authority, but with capability. Building the agency of Village Mukhiyas is therefore critical.
These examples illustrate the profound impact of leadership training on local governance and the potential for institutional support for Village Mukhiyas across India. Jyoti Devi's success story is just one of many, with countless more waiting to happen. And when 250,000 Village Mukhiyas move forward, India will leapfrog toward its goal to become a developed nation by 2047.
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