Mendha a tribal village in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra is showing the way to conserve forests and manage natural resources. Mendha is mainly inhabited by 480 Gond adivasis.

On 19 December, the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009 was passed in the State Assembly. It is now mandatory for all registered voters in Gujarat to vote in the elections of all local bodies (municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayats) of the state.

At a time of when the extension of panchayati raj to the entire country is frequently cited as a major achievement of India's democracy, there are thousands of villagers who are still deprived of the coverage of panchayati raj and its numerous benefits. These villagers are called taungya settlers.

Privatization of solid waste management (SWM) services has been a debated topic and has come under greater focus in recent times.

The Decentralisation Community of Solution Exchange, an initiative of the United Nations in India, provides a platform for increasing our understanding of local governance both rural and urban-through knowledge sharing and collaboration. This article is a summary of one of the discussions held on the Decentralisation Community.

Pandit Nehru laid the foundation of Panchayati Raj in Nagaur, Rajasthan. Also some of the outstanding legislations which involved empowerment of rural people, for instance, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and the Right to Information (RTI), have had their beginning in the state.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated a Model Panchayats and Gram Swaraj Act (MPGSA) for states. The Ministry invited members to give their comments and suggestions.

Kol tribals in Patha region of Chitrakut district (Uttar Pradesh) have taken a big step forward in exposing the corruption which prevents the benefits of various government schemes from reaching them.

"The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2009 is being reintroduced with modifications in the earlier Bill. A Draft Model Panchayat Act (DMPA) was circulated to all the States by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the month of April 2009 requesting for suggestions/comments within three weeks.

On August 4, 2009, National Council Meet of the Association of Local Governance of India (ALGI) was held in New Delhi. Panchayat members and presidents, political representatives and representatives from civil society organisations from 19 states participated in the programme.