LOCAL GOVERNANCE

PANCHAYATI RAJ:

Rural local self-government.

To build democracy at the grass root level.
Rural development
Its basic principles and broad fundamentals should be identical throughout the country.

Evolution of Panchayati Raj:

Why various committees on Panchayati raj: To revive & strengthen Panchayati raj system in the country.
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee(1957):Democratic decentralisation,3-tier Panchayati raj, genuine transfer of power & responsibility.
Ashok Mehta Committee(1978):2-tier Panchayati raj, Official participation of political parties at all levels of Panchayati Raj, Zila parishad
responsible for planning at District level, Compulsory powers of taxation to mobilize own financial resource, Regular social audit, Nyaya
Panchayat,Organise & Conduct Panchayati Election, Minister of Panchayati raj should be appointed, Reservation of seats for SC & ST in
proportion to their population, Constitutional recognition to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
GVK Rao Committee(1986):Focused on Decentralization in the field of Administration by assigning leading role to the Panchayati Raj in
Local Planning & Development; Zila Parishad(district level) should become principal body for Management of all development
programmes; PRI at district & lower level should be important role i.e. Planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development
Programmes; Some planning functions should be transferred to the district level planning units for Effective decentralized district planning;
Elections to the PRI should be held regularly.
LM Singhvi Committee(1986): Focused on Revitalization of PRI for Democracy & Development. PRI should be constitutionally
recognized, protected & preserved; Nyaya Panchayat for cluster of villages; Importance of Gram sabha(as it is embodiment of direct
democracy); more financial resources for village panchayats; Judicial tribunal(in every state) to adjudicate controversies about election to
PRI, their dissolution and other matters related to their functioning.

Constitutionalisation of PRI:

Narasimha Rao Government introduced a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha in 1991. This bill finally emerged as the 73rd
constitutional Amenedment Act-1992. It came in force on 24th April-1993.

73rd Amendment Act-1992:

Significance:
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This added a new Part-9 to CONST. Art-243 to 243 O consists of provisions related to Panchayat. It added a new 11th Schedule to
the CONST(contains 29 functional items).
It gives a practical shape to Art-40. Art-40: States should organize Panchayats and should endow them necessary power &
authority.
It gives Constitutional status to PRI. It brought PRI under justiciable part of CONST i.e. state govt are under constitutional
obligation to adopt the new PRI.
There are 2-categories of provisions in the Act: Compulsory & Voluntary.
Land mark act in the evolution of Grass root democratic institutions in the country.
It transfers the Representative democracy into participatory democracy.

Features:
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Gram Sabha: It is foundation of the Panchayati Raj Institution. It is Village assembly consisting of all registered voters in the area
of a Panchayat. Its powers & functions at the village level is determined by state.
3-Tier System: