At Anode Governance Lab, we believe effective governance must lead to measurable improvements in people’s lives. Our work in Chitradurga district, Karnataka, is rooted in this belief. By activating Gram Panchayat (GP) institutions, strengthening community engagement, and promoting collaboration between GPs, communities, and line departments, we are ensuring that local governance systems work for the people they are meant to serve.

Anode has been working across 15 Gram Panchayats in Chitradurga and Challakere blocks, focusing on strengthening local governance processes by equipping both Gram Panchayats and communities with the tools, knowledge, and platforms to work together effectively.

Recognising that ward sabhas were rarely held, Anode introduced Community Engagement Processes (CEPs) to foster regular dialogue and collaboration between GP members and citizens at the village level. Anode has facilitated at least 79 CEP meetings, which have led to the formation of 28 Citizen Action Groups (CAGs). These CAGs act as a bridge between the GP and the community, helping to translate citizen needs into formal petitions.

Since September 2023, Anode has facilitated the submission of 68 petitions, of which 32 have been resolved, while work has been initiated or is about to begin on another 25 petitions.

Anode’s work also focuses on building the capacity of GP members through training and workshops, enhancing their understanding of roles and responsibilities while fostering peer learning and knowledge sharing. This approach has led to greater participation in General Body Meetings (GBMs), with previously disengaged members becoming more involved. Gram Panchayats are also becoming more responsive, with clearer attention to community priorities through ward-level actions and structured petition follow-up.

These interventions have transformed the relationship between Gram Panchayats and the communities they serve, creating greater trust and more effective collaboration, where both sides see themselves as partners in governance.

Tangible changes across wards and villages

While the numbers reflect the scale of change, the real impact lies in how daily life has improved across Chitradurga’s wards and villages. Over the past two and a half years, Anode’s work has helped catalyse 222 ward-wise actions in Year 2, rising to 351 actions in Year 3, covering 91 of 119 wards. These actions, driven by community priorities and facilitated by responsive Gram Panchayats, have addressed critical gaps in services and infrastructure, showing how participatory governance translates into visible improvements.

In schools, 58 ward-level actions have focused on improving infrastructure and learning conditions, including renovating classrooms, providing learning materials, enhancing mid-day meals, creating libraries, and improving water and sanitation facilities. Children now study in brighter classrooms, have access to books and clean drinking water, and benefit from healthier school meals, contributing to a more supportive learning environment.

Early childhood care has also improved, with 29 actions focused on anganwadis. These actions included upgrading buildings, ensuring furniture and learning materials were in place, improving water and sanitation, and ensuring nutritious meals for mothers and children. These improvements strengthen early childhood development and support better maternal health, creating a strong foundation for the future.

Sanitation has seen significant progress, with 80 actions addressing long-standing issues. These included introducing waste collection vehicles, constructing segregation centres, cleaning drains, distributing dustbins, and removing invasive plants. These efforts are creating cleaner villages, reducing disease risks, and improving overall public health.

Access to clean water has also improved considerably, with 103 water-related actions carried out across the Gram Panchayats. These ranged from supporting the Jal Jeevan Mission, improving household water supply, installing RO water facilities, and rejuvenating public tanks. Reliable access to safe water directly improves health outcomes and reduces the time and effort spent by women and girls collecting water, freeing up time for education and livelihoods.

Alongside these core services, other ward-level actions have addressed health services, social security enrolment, and civil works, ensuring that community needs are addressed holistically. From improving public health outreach to ensuring citizen petitions lead to concrete action, these efforts strengthen the link between community priorities and Gram Panchayat decision-making, demonstrating how responsive local governance improves the quality of life in meaningful and lasting ways.

Beyond basic services

Alongside infrastructure and essential services, Anode’s work has also ensured that vulnerable residents access their rightful social security entitlements, providing a vital safety net for widows, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities. By working closely with ward members and GP staff and leveraging the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) platform, Anode has helped 265 individuals secure pensions, UDID cards, and enrolment in PMJJY (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana), enhancing their economic security.

Sanitation services have also seen a shift towards community ownership. Residents now segregate waste at source and pay user fees, helping ensure regular waste collection services can continue. Women from Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) have taken on leadership roles in managing Solid Waste Management (SWM) units, which not only gives them technical and financial management experience but also challenges traditional caste-based roles in waste work. By overseeing operations, finances, and community engagement, these women are building new leadership skills and strengthening their role in local governance.

This growing partnership between Gram Panchayats and GPLFs, forged around sanitation, is already paving the way for wider collaboration in other governance areas, demonstrating how stronger community institutions contribute to more inclusive governance overall.

The ripple effect of change

The changes unfolding across Chitradurga’s Gram Panchayats go far beyond individual projects. By strengthening Gram Panchayat institutions, encouraging citizen participation, and fostering collaboration between communities, GPs, and line departments, Anode is helping embed a culture of participatory governance that can sustain itself well into the future.

This is translating into citizens who understand their rights, participate actively in ward sabhas, and raise issues through structured petitions. Gram Panchayat members who once saw service delivery as purely administrative are now working alongside citizens, responding to community priorities, and viewing themselves as partners in governance.

Within the Gram Panchayats, ward members are using tools such as Organisation Mapping and Community Engagement Processes to identify gaps, prioritise solutions, and monitor progress, making the entire planning and decision-making process more transparent and more accountable to citizens.

Crucially, relationships between Gram Panchayats, communities, and line departments are being strengthened, ensuring that local development efforts are more coordinated and responsive. By ensuring that each actor understands their role and works together, Anode is helping create a local governance system that is both inclusive and effective.

Anode’s experience in Chitradurga demonstrates that participatory governance is not only possible, but essential for ensuring that rural development reflects the needs and aspirations of the communities it serves.