Committees on Panchayat Raj

Balwanth Rai Mehta Committee

The committee was appointed by Planning Commission in 1957 to study the

Community Development Programme and National Extension Scheme. The
Committee submitted its report in November 1957 in which it identified lack of
people’s participation as a main cause of failure of both programmes. The committee
made the following recommendations:

1. Three- tier structure for PRIs – Zilla Parishad, Mandal Parishad and Gram Panchayat.
It was the first committee to propose a three tier structure for PRIs.
2. It proposed indirect elections for Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad and direct
elections for Gram Panchayat.
3. It recommended transfer of powers and responsibilities to these institutions and
transfer of resources to discharge these responsibilities.
4. It recommended that all social-economic development programs must be channelized
through these institutions.
5. It recommended tenure of five years.

Sadik Ali Committee

The Committee was appointed in 1964 by the Rajasthan Government to study the
reasons for failure of PRI’s. The Committee identified the following reasons

1. Meetings of Gram Sabha were not announced

2. When meetings were arranged they were not used to discuss people’s problems but
were used as a platform to promote government policies and initiatives.
3. Meetings were mostly organized during peak agricultural seasons.
4. No records of Gram Sabha were maintained as a consequence of which there was
absolutely no progress.

G. L. Vyas Committee

The committee was appointed in 1974 by Rajasthan government to suggest measures

for improving performance of PRI’s. Recommendations of the committee:

1. Statutory recognition should be given to Gram Sabha.

2. Compulsory attendance of sarpanch in Gram Sabha meetings
3. Meetings to be held in non agricultural seasons
4. Village level workers must attend Gram Sabha meetings and maintain a record of
meetings.

Ashok Mehta Committee

 Committees on Panchayat Raj
The Committee was appointed by Janata government in December 1977 to suggest
measures for improvement of LSG in India. Recommendations of the Committee

1. It recommended two tier Structure for PRIs – Zilla Parishad and Mandal Panchayat
(5000 to 10,000 people)
2. Open participation of political parties in elections.
3. Social Audit by district level agencies
4. Compulsory taxation to powers.
5. Reservations for SC, ST and women.
6. Separate ministry of PRI’s in state
7. Government shouldn’t supercede PRI’s, if so done, elections must be held within 6
months.

GVK Rao Committee

GVK Rao Committee was appointed by Planning Commission in 1985 to recommend

on Administrative Arrangement for Rural Development. Observations made by the
committee are:

1. The developmental process was gradually bureaucratized and divorced from

panchayat as a consequence of which PRI’s became Grass without Roots
Recommendations of the Committee
2. Office of District Development Officer must be established to supervise
developmental activities in the district.
3. Some of the planning functions at state level must be transferred to the district level to
give effect to Decentralized planning because District is proper unit for planning and
development.
4. The status of the office of Block Development officer must be elevated because he is
sheet anchor for entire Rural development programme

L. N. Singhvi Committee

The Committee was appointed by Rajiv Gandhi Government in 1986 on

Revitalization of PRI’s for democratic Development (CRPDD). Recommendations of
the Committee:

1. Constitutionalization of PRI’s
2. Gram Sabha is an embodiment of direct Democracy therefore it should be made
compulsory