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This collection of sixteen articles and reports, drawn from the action projects carried out by the Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchayati Raj Studies, analyzes the raminifications and dimensions of decentralization of powers in Tamil Nadu, in the light of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. Giving the detailed account of the context in which devolution of powers was thought of in India, it also discusses at length the practice of good governance in rural local bodies, the women representatives? perspectives on governance, the problems faced by elected women representatives, new governing culture at the grassroots level, and the role of media in supporting grassroots democracy. About the Author Prof. Ganapathi Palanithurai, Coordinator in Rajiv Gandhi Chair, Gandhigram Rural Institute, presently heads the Department of Political Science and Development Administration, Gandhigram Rural University, Tamil Nadu. He is also Associated with Centre Planning Commission, State Planning Commission of Tamil Nadu, Population Foundation of India, Ford Foundation, UNICEF, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, CAPART, Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment and DANIDA (Danish-Indo Development Agency) in specific areas of activities in connection with empowerment of people. Prof. Palanithurai has to his credit twenty-nine books and seventy-five articles on three major areas, namely, legislative behaviour, ethnicity and Panchayati Raj system. He was recipient of Fellowship from Sastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi and World Academy of Art and Science, USA. He is the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Council for Sustainable Livelihoods. He was a visiting fellow in the MiGill University, Canada in 1989. He is a member of the expert committee constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu to monitor the training programme for local body leaders.