About Us

Our mission is to strengthen panchayats, improve public institutions, and enable meaningful citizen participation for effective local governance.

Local governments are central to transforming rural India. In the 2024–25 Union Budget, ₹4 lakh crore was allocated to villages through key Central Sector Schemes. Yet, these funds often fail to translate into meaningful change. The challenge is not a lack of funding but how effectively Gram Panchayats engage government departments, ensure accountability, and involve citizens in decision-making.

Anode Governance Lab was founded in 2016 to bridge this gap.

Our Beliefs

We act on the conviction that resilient institutions and actionable citizen agency are the foundations of sustainable development.

Adaptive Institutions

Institutions thrive when they embrace change, continuously learn, and adapt to the evolving contexts in which they function.

Systemic Approach

Effective institutions address both their internal dynamics and external influences to create comprehensive and enduring solutions.

Effective Local Leadership

Strong local governing bodies are uniquely positioned to understand community priorities, allocate resources efficiently, and foster long-term development.

Participatory Governance

Lasting change emerges when those most directly affected are actively engaged as decision-makers in shaping policies and actions.

Our Journey

At Anode, we believe that Gram Panchayats are not just administrative units but the backbone of rural transformation. Our journey began with the conviction that strengthening governance systems is essential for meaningful change to take root.

Responsive Timeline

2009

The genesis of Anode

In 2009, a small group of individual consultants with a shared interest in strengthening local governance, came together through our work with Arghyam. We engaged with 172 Gram Panchayats across Karnataka, sharing findings from a household water and sanitation survey that revealed critical gaps in infrastructure and highlighted the urgent need for corrective action. What stood out, however, was how many Panchayats lacked the capacity, resources, and institutional support to act on the data, despite their central role in delivering basic services.

This highlighted a deeper challenge. Governance systems needed strengthening to translate insights into action.

2011

A deeper engagement with Panchayats

By 2011, the group recognised the need to move beyond broad outreach and shift its approach to deeper, more sustained engagement. This led to close collaboration with two Gram Panchayats in Karnataka—O’Mittur in Kolar District and Dibburhalli in Chikkaballapur District.

These Panchayats became co-creators, designing and implementing change within their institutions, shaping the execution of government programmes, and working directly with citizens on key governance decisions. This collaborative journey raised crucial questions:

How do we bring lasting change to a Panchayat?

Where should the process begin?

How do we build trust in the true spirit of partnership?

Organisation Development for Panchayats

Traditional Panchayat training programmes were falling short. They treated Panchayat members as recipients of knowledge rather than partners in change.

This led us to adopt the Organisation Development (OD) methodology, a structured approach that shaped a change journey tailored to Gram Panchayats.

Together with partners like Grama Vikas in Mulbagal, FES in Chintamani, and Panarc in Delhi, we co-developed the Gram Panchayat Organisation Development (GPOD) framework, integrating their on-the-ground insights and expertise.

The early results were promising, suggesting a practical and scalable pathway to strengthening Panchayats in a more meaningful way.

2014

A turning point

2014 marked a significant step forward. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj sanctioned a two-year Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) innovation project for Karnataka.

The project was implemented in partnership with the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Government of Karnataka (RDPR, GoK), and Avantika Foundation’s Centre for Decentralised Local Governance.

This facilitated the wider implementation of GPOD, demonstrating its impact at scale. The experience reinforced the need for a dedicated focus on local governance as a vehicle for change.

2016

The founding of Anode

In 2016, Anode Governance Lab was established as an organisation dedicated to strengthening Panchayats, improving public systems, and fostering community engagement with government.

2021

Expanding our reach

By 2021, we expanded to Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh in partnership with PRADAN, strengthening the GPOD framework to deepen citizen participation and accountability. We integrated digital tools into the process, allowing Panchayats to track progress, engage communities more effectively, and make data-driven governance decisions.

2022

Shaping citizen-led development

Recognising that active citizen participation is key to effective governance, Anode launched the Citizen Engagement Process (CEP) in 2022.

Through CEP, we created safe spaces for citizens and ward members to collaborate on local governance decisions.

126 CEPs were conducted across 33 wards in 14 Gram Panchayats, engaging an average of 29 members per session.

Citizens submitted over 100 petitions, addressing issues from public services to local development needs.

40 percent of these petitions were resolved, directly shaping local governance priorities.

2023

Working with Public Institutions

Our work with Panchayats has shown that local governance does not function in isolation. Public institutions, from health services to administrative systems, play a crucial role in enabling effective service delivery at the grassroots.

In 2023, we forged a new partnership with Piramal Foundation to build Organisation Development knowledge and skills among Gandhi Fellows, nurturing humane administration and leadership in public systems. This initiative enhances employee agency and examines its impact on health service delivery and outcomes.

2025

Shaping Village Futures

Our journey continues with a clear focus on positioning Panchayats as the principal drivers of change in villages.

Building the future of local governance

Our work demonstrates tangible improvements across key development areas by activating and unlocking the full potential of local governments.

By promoting continuous learning, engaging with public systems, and building partnerships between government and non-government agencies, Anode is shaping a governance ecosystem that is responsive, accountable, and inclusive.

Explore Our Work

We collaborate with institutions and individuals, applying Organisation Development principles to build capacity, foster adaptability, and advance responsive governance.

Strengthening Local Governments

Making Gram Panchayats 29 times more effective through our Gram Panchayat Organisational Development approach

Improving Public Systems

Developing processes and frameworks to ensure accountable and efficient service delivery by public institutions

Leveraging Technology for Governance

Strengthening transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in governance institutions through our Organisation Mapping Tool

Developing Strategic Roadmaps

Designing strategies aligned with legal mandates for organisations to engage with local governments and public institutions