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This article discusses the relevance of Gram Swaraj or village self-governance and rural industries in the context of pandemic-ravaged countries like India. Drawing mainly from Gandhian Gram Swaraj ideas and secondary sources, it discusses the impact on informal sector workers, their rural–urban–rural migration and precarious livelihood question, the need for rural industries and the adaptation and application of Gram Swaraj ideas. The analysis has implications for considering these ideas for creating sustainable employment and livelihood in rural areas in countries like India.

Various socio-cultural and religious backgrounds influence the naming of an individual. For example, the Hindu belief system shapes the Assamese Hindu’s name in Assam. In contrast, the Islamic belief system shapes Assamese Muslim names, confirming that the personal name of an individual is a significant attribute of identification. It assists in identifying the individual. Equally, it also reveals the bearers’ socio-cultural and religious backgrounds. Therefore, the name directly or indirectly can affect the personal and social life of the individual. As the name can affect the individual’s life, sometimes an individual has to change their name to enjoy social, cultural and political benefits. This article carefully analyses how the name affects the name bearer and why an individual may seek to change his/her name.

Panchayati Raj Institutions, the three-tier institutions of local self-governing institutions that stand at the bottom, are found in rural areas in all states of India except in the Sixth Schedule areas formed under the Indian Constitution. The genesis of India’s local governance can be traced back to ancient times. However, these institutions got their present shape and structure after a series of reform studies resulted in several Acts and constitutional amendments. In this article, an attempt has been made to understand and analyse the impact of tribal women’s participation in the local governing institutions among the Tiwas of Assam.

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