Balwant Rai Mehta

Balwant Rai Mehta was an Indian politician and reformer known for promoting local governance and democratic decentralization. He played a key role in strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions—local village councils—by advocating for their empowerment and effective functioning. His work aimed to involve citizens more directly in decision-making processes at the community level, leading to more inclusive and participatory governance. The "Balwant Rai Mehta Committee," formed in 1957, recommended reforms that laid the foundation for modern Panchayati Raj systems in India, fostering grassroots democracy and local development.