The 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowers local communities through Panchayats by assigning them functional responsibility for 29 subjects, including health. This positions Panchayats and their allied people’s committees as critical stakeholders in addressing social determinants of health, such as nutrition, pollution, and lifestyle choices, which directly impact public health outcomes.
The rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and malnutrition underscores the need for Panchayat-led governance in delivering comprehensive primary healthcare. Initiatives like Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) and the National Health Mission (NHM) emphasize community engagement through structures like Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) and Jan Arogya Samitis (JAS). These frameworks enable participatory planning and implementation of health initiatives at the grassroots level.
Recognizing the crucial role of Panchayats in public health, GRAAM (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement) is conducting this study to assess the current landscape of health governance and service delivery. The study explores the effectiveness of Panchayat-driven health initiatives, identifies existing gaps, and provides policy recommendations to strengthen community-led health interventions.