Subject(s): Panchayat Raj -- Local government -- Local finance -- Panchayati raj- emergent steps needed, constitutional panchayats of India- emerging jurico philisophical issues, challenges before panchayati raj institutions, problem areas in panchayati raj, reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in panchayati raj institutions, decentralized planning in context of new panchayati raj system, decentralized planning in panchayati raj frame, political empowerment of women in Karnataka -- Gender and political empowerment, gender issues in new panchayati raj system, role of panchayati raj institutions in development of women and children, inter-tier allocation of responsibilities in panchayati raj institutions, management of education under panchayati raj institutions, economic issues in panchayati raj program, resource mobilization in panchayati raj, role of NGO in panchayati raj, training for panchayati raj, training program for elected panchayati raj members, outlook for research on panchayati raj after the 73rd amendment, local self government in Indian and Germany