On the 77th Republic Day, something remarkable happened in Mupparam, a village tucked away in the Dharmasagar mandal of Hanumakonda district of Telangana. This place didn’t just mark the day with speeches and flags—it turned the spotlight on real, working democracy at the grassroots. Mupparam divided up the village’s departmental responsibilities among its ward members and the Sarpanch, moving past the usual symbolic nod to the Constitution. Instead, they put Gram Swarajya into practice. The way they did it deserves a closer look. It’s not just about process; it’s about Gandhian ideals coming alive and showing the rest of rural India a practical path to self-reliance.

Core of the Mupparam Model: Functional Decentralization

At the heart of Mupparam’s approach is actual decentralization. In most Gram Panchayats, the Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary hold the reins, making most decisions and handling the lion’s share of work. Mupparam flipped this script. They set up a Cabinet-style system. Each ward member runs a specific department—Sanitation, Street Lighting, Water Supply, Education, and so on. Now, these members aren’t just figureheads for their neighbourhoods. They’re department heads, each responsible for a specific service. This shift means:

Ward members have real, specialized oversight. They’re accountable not just in theory, but in daily practice.

The Sarpanch isn’t bogged down with every street or drain problem. Now, they focus on strategy and keeping everything connected.

Accountability is clear. If a street light goes out or a drain backs up, everyone knows who’s in charge of fixing it.

Bridging the Gap to Gram Swarajya

The idea of Gram Swarajya—village self-rule—was always more than just holding elections. He imagined every village as a mini-republic, handling its own needs but also cooperating with neighbours. Mupparam’s model actually bridges the gap between theory and reality. Compare the old and new ways:

Generally in any conventional Panchayats, all the decisions come from the top (state or district). Ward members mostly show up to meetings. Public services are general, often slow. People’s trust depends on the Sarpanch. But, in Mupparam, decisions start at the bottom, at the ward level. Members monitor their departments every day. Services are targeted and faster. Trust spreads across the whole local leadership, not just one person.

Structural Breakdown of Responsibilities

This change became official on Republic Day, when they handed out the new roles. The structure works like this:

The Sarpanch acts as the executive, steering revenue, dealing with the state, and keeping an eye on village security.

Sanitation & Health is handled by a ward member focused on keeping the village clean, managing waste, and overseeing the local health center.

Infrastructure & Utilities has another member watching over water pipelines (Mission Bhagiratha) and streetlights.

Social Welfare & Education falls to someone else, who checks on Anganwadi centers and schools—making sure mid-day meals are actually served and kids show up.

Socio-Economic Impact and the Way Forward

This shakeup isn’t just about smarter management. It’s a tool for social inclusion. In many villages, ward members from marginalized backgrounds barely have a say. Here, by giving them real departments to run, Mupparam gives these leaders genuine authority and a stake in the village’s progress.

Of course, challenges remain. For this model to last, these “departments” need their own budgets. Ward members need proper training to manage their new roles. These are hurdles, but not insurmountable.

What Mupparam has done is a wake-up call. The Republic we celebrate every January 26th is only as strong as its smallest pieces. By handing out both power and responsibility, this village has taken Gram Swarajya out of textbooks and into daily life. It’s not just a historical idea anymore—it’s happening, right now, in Hanumakonda.