Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Poverty Alleviation and Socio-Economic Development: Evidence from Udhampur District of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a crucial role in democratic decentralization, grassroots governance, and rural development in India. The present study examines the structure of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, evaluates their role in implementing poverty alleviation programmes and assesses the impact of PRI-led initiatives on the socio-economic conditions of rural communities in Udhampur District. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 350 beneficiaries selected through multistage random sampling from six development blocks of the district. Primary data were gathered using a self-structured questionnaire, while descriptive statistics and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed for analysis. The findings indicate that PRIs play a significant role in disseminating information about welfare schemes, assisting beneficiaries in accessing government programmes, monitoring implementation processes and promoting community participation. PRI-led initiatives contributed positively to improvements in rural infrastructure, living standards, family income, and awareness regarding education and health. Significant differences were observed among the selected blocks regarding programme implementation and socio-economic outcomes. Despite these positive contributions, challenges related to transparency, beneficiary selection, financial limitations, and administrative inefficiencies persist. The study concludes that strengthening institutional capacity, financial autonomy and participatory governance mechanisms is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of PRIs and achieving sustainable rural development and poverty reduction.