When we started large scale development work, we realized that we needed large amount of finances and that only the local government could provide that. This will not be possible without mobilizing the people to come for Gram Sabhas and asking for their development. When the officials were not very helpful, the villagers decided that they would put up their own candidate when the next Panchayat elections came in 2019 and selected Ms. Madheswari Manjunathan to stand as the peoples candidate against the registered political party candidiates.

Promising honesty and transparency, she won with a large margin, emphasizing that people do really want an accountable government at the local level. Sittilingi Panchayat now has many awards under its belt and is a model Panchayat for Tamil Nadu. Gram Swaraj is possible if you try for it sincerely.