11/1/2019 Panchayati raj (India) - Wikipedia

Panchayati raj (India)

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Contents
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History
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
Gram panchayat samga
Sources of income
Block level panchayat or Panchayat Samiti
Composition
Functions
Zila parishad
Composition
Functions
Reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in India
See also
Notes and references
Further reading
External links

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In India, the Panchayati Raj generally refers to the system of local self-
government in India introduced by a constitutional amendment in 1992,
although it is based upon the traditional panchayat system of the Indian
subcontinent. This Panchayati Raj system was formalized in 1992,
following a study conducted by a number of Indian committees on various
ways of implementing more decentralized administration. The modern
Panchayati Raj and its Gram Panchayats are not to be confused with the
extra-constitutional Khap Panchayats (or Caste Panchayats) found in
Muhamma Panchayat office, Kerala
northern India.

In India, the Panchayati Raj now functions as a system of governance in

which gram panchayats are the basic units of local administration. The system has three levels: Gram Panchayat
(village level), Mandal Parishad or Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
It was formalized in 1992 by the 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution. Currently, the Panchayati Raj system
exists in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, and in all Union Territories except Delhi.

The Panchayats receive funds from three sources:

Local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission

Funds for implementation of centrally sponsored schemes
Funds released by the state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions

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History
Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj as the foundation of India's
political system, as a decentralized form of government in which each
village would be responsible for its own affairs.[1][2]. Instead, India
developed a highly centralized form of government.[3] However, this has
been moderated by the delegation of several administrative functions to
the local level, empowering elected gram panchayats. There are significant
differences between the traditional Panchayati Raj system, that was
envisioned by Gandhi, and the system formalized in India in 1992.[4]
Open Panchayat near Narsingarh,
The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Madhya Pradesh
Nagaur district on 2 Oct 1959. During the 1950s and 60s, other state
governments adopted this system as laws were passed to establish
panchayats in various states. The second state was Andhra Pradesh, while Maharashtra was the ninth state. It also
founded backing in the Indian Constitution, with the 73rd amendment in 1992 to accommodate the idea.

In the history of Panchayati Raj, in India, on 24 April 1993, the Constitutional (73rd amendment) Act 1992 came into
force to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions. This amendment was extended to Panchayats
in the tribal areas of eight states, namely: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan beginning on 24 December 1996. This amendment contains provision for devolution
of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats, both for the preparation of economic development plans and social
justice, as well as for implementation in relation to 29 subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution, and
the ability to levy and collect appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.[5] The Act aims to provide a three-tier systems of
Panchayati Raj for all states having a population of over 2 million, to hold Panchayat elections regularly every five
years, to provide seats reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women; to appoint a State Finance
Commission to make recommendations regarding the financial powers of the Panchayats and to constitute a District
Planning Committee.[6]

List of committees constituted for recommendations regarding Panchayati Raj in India:

Balwant Rai Mehta 1957

V.T. Krishnammachari 1960
Takhatmal Jain Study Group 1966
Ashok Mehta Committee 1978
G.V.K. Rao Committee 1985
Dr. L.M. Singhvi Committee 1986
P.K. Thungon Committee 1989
S. Mohinder Singh 2013

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, headed by MP Balwantrai Mehta, was a committee appointed by the Government
of India in January 1957 to examine the work of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National
Extension Service (1953), to suggest measures to improve their work. The committee's recommendation was
implemented by NDC in January 1958, and this set the stage for the launching of Panchayati Raj Institutions
throughout the country. The committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic
decentralization’, which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj.

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This led to the establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj system: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat
Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level...

Gram panchayat samga

Sarpanch is its elected head. The members of the gram panchayat are elected from each for a period of five years by
the members of Gram Sabha.[7][8]

Sources of income
Taxes collected locally such as on water, place of pilgrimage, local mandirs (temples), and markets
A fixed grant from the State Government in proportion to the land revenue and money for works and schemes
assigned to the Parishads

Block level panchayat or Panchayat Samiti

A Panchayat Samiti (block panchayat) is a local government body at the
tehsil level. This body works for the villages of the tehsil that together are
called a "development block". The Panchayat Samiti is the link between the
Gram Panchayat and the district administration. Just as the tehsil goes by
other names in various parts of India, notably mandal and taluka, there
are a number of variations in nomenclature for the block panchayat. For
example, it is known as Mandal Praja Parishad in Andhra Pradesh,
Taluka Panchayat in Gujarat and Karnataka, and Panchayat Samiti in
Maharashtra. In general, the block panchayat has the same form as the
Newly elected panchayat in Punjab,
gram panchayat but at a higher level. India

Composition
Membership in the block panchayat is mostly ex-official; it is composed of: all of the Sarpanchas (gram panchayat
chairmen) in the Panchayat Samiti area, the MPs and MLAs of the area, the sub-district officer (SDO) of the
subdivision, co-opt members (representatives of the SC/ST and women), associate members (a farmer from the area, a
representative of the cooperative societies and one from marketing services), and some elected members.

The Panchayat Samiti is elected for a tel Welfare

Information Technology
Water Supply Department
Animal Husbandry and others
There is an officer for every department. A government-appointed Block Development Officer (BDO) is the executive
officer to the Samiti and the chief of its administration, and is responsible for his work to the CEO of ZP.

Functions
Implementation of schemes for the development of agriculture and infrastructure
Establishment of primary health centres and primary schools
Supply of drinking water, drainage and construction/repair of roads
Development of a cottage and small-scale industries, and the opening of cooperative societies
Establishment of youth organisations

Zila parishad
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The governing of the advance system at the district level in Panchayat Raj is also popularly known as Zila Parishad.
The chief of administration is an officer of the IAS cadre and chief officer of the Panchayat raj for the district level.

Composition
The membership varies from 40 to 60 and usually comprises:

Deputy Commissioner of the District

Presidents of all Panchayat Samitis in the district
heads of all Government Departments in the district
members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies in the district
a representative of each cooperative society
some women and Scheduled Caste members, if not adequately represented
co-opted members having extraordinary experience and achievements in public service.

Functions
Provide essential services and facilities to the rural population
Supply improved seeds to farmers and inform them of new farming techniques
Set up and run schools and libraries in rural areas
Start primary health centers and hospitals in villages; start vaccination drives against epidemics
Execute plans for the development of the scheduled castes and tribes; run ashram shalas for Adivasi children; set
up free hostels for them.
Encourage entrepreneurs to start small-scale industries and implement rural employment schemes.
Construct bridges, roads and other public facilities and their maintenance
Provide employment.
Works on Sanitation related issues

Reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in

India
On August 27, 2009, the Union Cabinet of the Government of India approved 50% reservation for women in
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI). The Indian states Andhra Pradesh, [[Bihar( 1st state among all to reserve 50% of
seats for women) ]], Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal and Uttarakhand[9] have implemented 50% reservation
for women in PRIs.[10][11] The majority of candidates in these Panchayats are women. Currently 100% of elected
members in Kodassery Panchayat in Kerala are women.[12]

See also
National Panchayati Raj Day
Local self-government in India

Notes and references

Notes

1. Sisodia, R. S. (1971). "Gandhiji's Vision of Panchayati Raj". Panchayat Aur Insan. 3 (2): 9–10.
2. Template:Cite lf-governance"

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3. Hardgrave, Robert L. & Kochanek, Stanley A. (2008). India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation
(seventh ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: Thomson/Wadsworth. p. 157 (https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgc
SQhuIC&pg=PT157). ISBN 978-0-495-00749-4.
4. Singh, Vijandra (2003). "Chapter 5: Panchayate Raj and Gandhi". Panchayati Raj and Village Development:
Volume 3, Perspectives on Panchayati Raj Administration. Studies in public administration. New Delhi: Sarup &
Sons. pp. 84–90. ISBN 978-81-7625-392-5.
5. India 2007, p. 696, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India
6. "Panchayati Raj System in Independent India" (https://www.pbrdp.gov.in/documents/6205745/98348119/Panchay
ati%20Raj%20System%20in%20Independent%20India.pdf) (PDF). www.pbrdp.gov.in. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
7. Sapra, Ipsita (February 2013). "Living in the villages" (http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/after-25-years-elected-villag
e-councils-india-democracy-still-needs-be-deepened). Rural Democracy. D+C Development and Cooperation.
Retrieved 24 April 2015.
8. Seetharam, Mukkavilli (1 January 1990). Citizen Participation in Rural Development (https://books.google.com/bo
oks?redir_esc=y&id=aDoppmCmeqUC&q=sarpanch#v=snippet&q=sarpanch&f=false). Mittal Publications. p. 34.
ISBN 9788170992271.
9. 50% reservation for women in panchayats – Oneindia News (http://news.oneindia.in/2009/08/27/cabinetapproves-
50-percent-reservation-for-women-inpancha.html). News.oneindia.in (2009-08-27). Retrieved on 2013-07-28.
10. 50% reservation for women in AP, Bihar Panchayats (http://www.sify.com/news/50-reservation-for-women-in-ap-bi
har-panchayats-news-politics-llzpcIcijii.html). Sify.com (2011-11-25). Retrieved on 2013-07-28.
11. http://www.mathrubhumi.com/women/features/mayor-malayalam-news-1.696624
12. http://www.mathrubhumi.com/women/news/lsgd-womans-malayalam-news-1.694513

Sources

Nepal glossary (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/nepal/np_glos.html), United States Library of Congress

Article 333357 (https://web.archive.org/web/20061129102419/http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=3
33357&sid=REG), zeenews.com
Article India994-07 (https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/india/India994-07.htm), hrw.org
Panchayati raj Recruitment (http://www.exambuzzer.com/2013/12/ap-appsc-panchayat-secretary-notification-onlin
e-application.html), Exambuzzer.com

Further reading
Mitra, Subrata K.; Singh, V.B. (1999). Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the
National Electorate. New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 978-81-7036-809-0 (India HB) ISBN 978-0-7619-9344-5
(U.S. HB).
Mitra, Subrata K.. (2001). "Making Local Government Work: Local elites, Panchayati raj and governance in India",
in Kohli, Atul (ed.). The Success of India's Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-
80144-7
Mitra, Subrata K.. (2003). "Chapter 17: Politics in India", in Almond, Gabriel A. et al. (eds.), Comparative Politics
Today. 8th edition. New York: Addison-Wesley-Longman, pp. 634–684. ISBN 978-0-321-15896-3 (also reprinted
in the 9th (2007), 10th (2012) and 11th (2015) editions)
Palanithurai, Ganapathi (ed.) (2002–2010) Dynamics of New Panchayati Raj System in India. New Delhi: Concept
Publishing Company. in seven volumes, volume 1 (2002) "Select States" ISBN 978-81-7022-911-7; volume 2
(2002) "Select States" ISBN 978-81-7022-912-4; volume 3 (2004) "Select States" ISBN 978-81-8069-129-4;
volume 4 (2004) "Empowering Women" ISBN 978-81-8069-130-0; volume 5 (2005) "Panchayati Raj and Multi-
Level Planning" ISBN 978-81-8069-244-4; volume 6 (2008) "Capacity Building" ISBN 978-81-8069-506-3; volume
7 (2010) "Financial Status of Panchayats" ISBN 978-81-8069-672-5.
Shourie, Arun (1990). Individuals, Institutions, Processes: How one may strengthen the other in India today. New
Delhi, India: Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-83787-8.
Sivaramakrishnan, Kallidaikurichi Chidambarakrishnan (2000) Power to the People: The politics and progress of
decentralisation. Delhi: Konark Publishers. ISBN 978-81-220-0584-4

External links
Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India (https://web.archive.org/web/20070329082726/http://panchayat.n
ic.in/)
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11/1/2019 Panchayati raj (India) - Wikipedia

"Home page" (http://rural.nic.in/). Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government
of India.
"Panchayat (article 440944)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120129034756/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecke
d/topic/440944/panchayat). Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original (http://www.britannica.com/EBch
ecked/topic/440944/panchayat) on 29 January 2012. about the caste panchayats
The Hunger Project. "Two Million Women Leaders and Counting: Indian Women Participate in Their Local
Government" (http://www.imow.org/exhibitions/women-power-and-politics/power/two-million-women). International
Museum of Women. Archived (https://www.webcitation.org/6Zg6S3w4z?url=http://www.imow.org/exhibitions/wom
en-power-and-politics/power/two-million-women) from the original on 30 June 2015.
National Agriculture Education Institution Image Panchayat Raj Symbol (http://nationalagriedu.blogspot.in/)

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