_______ was in strong support for organizing Village Panchayat.

The correct answer is Mahatma Gandhi.

Key Points

• Mahatma Gandhi was a strong advocate for the concept of Village Panchayat as the foundation of India's rural development and self-reliance.
• He believed in the principle of Gram Swaraj, which translates to "village self-rule," where villages function as self-sustained units of governance.
• Gandhi emphasized that decentralization of power to the village level would empower rural communities and strengthen democracy at the grassroots.
• Village Panchayats were envisaged by him as institutions of self-governance, ensuring socio-economic development and justice at the local level.
• His vision influenced the inclusion of the Panchayati Raj system in the Indian Constitution, particularly under Article 40 of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Additional Information

• Panchayati Raj System
  • The Panchayati Raj system is a three-tier structure of local self-governance in India comprising Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
  • It was constitutionally formalized through the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, which added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.
  • Part IX mandates the establishment of Panchayats in every state, ensuring democratic decentralization.
• Gram Swaraj
  • A concept introduced by Mahatma Gandhi emphasizing self-sufficient villages as the backbone of India's rural economy.
  • The philosophy promotes decentralized decision-making, local resource management, and community participation.
• Article 40 of the Indian Constitution
  • Part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), Article 40 directs the State to organize Village Panchayats and empower them to function as units of self-governance.
  • This serves as the constitutional foundation for Panchayati Raj institutions in India.
• Mahatma Gandhi's Vision
  • He envisioned an India where villages are autonomous entities, capable of managing their own affairs without external interference.
  • Gandhi believed that true democracy in India could only be achieved through the empowerment of rural communities.