Synopsis Inclusion and Exclusion in Local Governance : Field Studies from Rural India is a product of a rare national-level study conducted in forty two panchayats across twelve states to reveal how democratic decentralization is working in Indian villages. This is done through stories of empowerment as well as discrimination against women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs). The contributors have adopted a unique research methodology which may set a trend for future national-level qualitative studies. The field studies offers insights about rural India from a micro-level perspective instead of providing macro-level generalities. This collection will be of considerable interest to students, researchers, academicians and practitioners working in the fields of local governance, political sociology and rural development.