Role Of Panchayat Raj Institutions In Localising Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study Of Padur Village, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) form the foundation of rural governance in India and are crucial for effectively adapting and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level. The village of Padur in Tamil Nadu illustrates the significant impact that local governance can have on advancing sustainable development. Acknowledging this, the present study examines the initiatives undertaken by PRIs in Padur to localize the SDGs and encourage community-driven growth. The PRIs have played a key role in executing projects that align with SDG objectives, with a particular emphasis on ensuring women’s active participation in community initiatives and empowering them in decision-making roles. Additionally, model projects have been launched to showcase sustainable practices that can be adopted at the household level, thereby raising awareness and inspiring action among residents. These research studies have used Case Study approach to investigate the capacity-building measures and the importance of community engagement in Padur. The objective is to evaluate how these grassroots efforts facilitate the achievement of the SDGs and to determine their potential as a replicable framework for other rural areas in Tamil Nadu. The data was collected through interview schedule conducted with stakeholders and residents of Padur village.  The data was analysed based on the themes. The PRI has started with initiatives of green and later have taken projects in other themes of LSDG. The LSDG projects are based Gram Panchayat Development Plan and all the projects are monitored by the committees in the village. They have scored better than other Panchayat in the Thiruporur Block. The thematic analysis helped in understanding the problems of the village and role of local stakeholders. The case of Padur demonstrates that while PRIs are positioned to localize SDGs, their effectiveness is constrained by financial resources, institutional capacity, and resource availability.  The Panchayat Raj institutions needs to create fund raising projects to funding the project and also improve the participation of the people and another area is change in the behaviours and adopting healthy practices. The study supports the argument that localizing SDGs requires more than just decentralization; it demands a reorientation of local institutions toward inclusive, evidence-based, and goal-driven governance. Strengthening local capacities through training, digital tools are very important. The findings will be very beneficial to the PRI to improve further and adopt effective strategies to achieve LSDGs. Thus study offer valuable insights and motivation for Panchayat leaders and local stakeholders, encouraging them to pursue innovative approaches for SDG implementation.