Consequences of Covid–19 and Role of Gram Panchayats in Tackling the Pandemic Situation

Some Highlights from West Bengal

Abstract

After the outbreak of Covid–19 in India, the government of India at the central level promoted several measures to tackle the pandemic situation in the country. While implementing broad socio-economic development programmes and promoting awareness and other support, Delhi also realised the importance of local governance at the grassroots level and suggested that state governments take measures as required at the state and local levels. Considering the specific issues raised at the local level, the state governments appointed their local governance institutions, gram panchayats and municipalities to lead implementation and sensitisation processes. The result was excellent. This article attempts to discuss the consequences of the Covid–19 pandemic and the role of gram panchayats in tackling the pandemic situation, especially in West Bengal.