A Case Study of Panchayat Raj Institutions as Change Agents through Social Entrepreneurship

Abstract

In the core of drastic worldwide swing from a monetary economy to moral and social economy, the concept of social entrepreneurship transcends all other change phenomenon for sustainable development. It has been recognized as the engine propelling a driving force behind the rapid changes in all aspects. After 60 years of independence, it is seen as imperative to drive social change in overcoming the gap between the monetary economy and the social development. Today there is a need for supplementary social innovations in shedding away old patterns of rural isolation and to leverage cross-sector dynamics for generating social values. Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) can be used as key actors in enhancing social entrepreneurship at village level. This research aims to document case studies from Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat in which panchyats has transformed the locality in all spheres. It has opened boulevard of investigation of social entrepreneurship practices at the panchayat level for others. The consolidated cases are based on the Sahlman’s model PCDO. It concludes with the implications for the practice of social entrepreneurship in PRIs for the sustainable development.