The new Panchayati Raj is opening up possibilities for a better flow of information is power and the dominant classes kept the ordinary people in the dark. Transparency in public dealings was missing because everything official was secret and confidential. Panchayats come to break this centrilesed information system when 30 lakh elected members ask for information on a variety of matters that affect people’s lives. By all indicators northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are lagging behind in terms of social development. One of the reasons for this is the absence of social reforms movement that several other parts of the country have had from time to time. This historical gap could will be filled by panchayats through motivation of the people to take charge of their own lives. At the threshold of the 21st century the new panchayats have the capacity to turn a new leaf in the life of the village of these states. Resistance will be high, it could even be violent; but democratization is a process that cannot be stopped by such outbursts. Once people taste power, they would yield to none. Unfortunately, forces against devolution of powers to the Panchayats as well as strengthening democracy at the grassroots are still powerful. Once can discern deliberate attempts on the part of the vested interests supporting the status quo to create skepticism about the working of the local governments. Constructive criticism or creative action is absent. But the new Panchayati Raj showing the way. A strong campaign to make panchayats the integral part of people’s live is the need of the hour. The process is irreversible. This is the second chance to restructure the Indian polity and Democracy.

Keywords: Development; Democracy; Governance; Federalism.