Barriers to meaningful citizen participation in Gram Panchayats: evidence from Tripura

This study examines the gap between formal attendance and substantive participation in Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Unakoti District, Tripura, North East India. Using primary data from 240 respondents across four purposively selected GPs, the study adopts a mixed-method approach combining survey analysis with thematic interpretation of open-ended responses. The findings identify multiple barriers to effective participation, including administrative indifference, political clientelism, corruption perceptions, gender-based marginalisation, and socioeconomic constraints. The study suggests that strengthening transparency mechanisms, ensuring inclusivity, and addressing structural inequalities are essential to transform procedural participation into substantive democratic engagement.