Unit V

Panchayati Raj

Democratic decentralisation
The process of transferring power to the grass root level is known as democratic
decentralisation. It is a centrifugal movement. Power moves from the central to the regional
and local areas. It aims to entrust local organs created in local areas with power. Thus there is
devolution of authority from the higher levels of the government to the lower levels. This
devolution of authority assumes the form of autonomy to the people at lower levels to take
political decisions, to formulate ways to execute it, to manage the finances and exercise
necessary administrative control. The authority thus decentralised is managed by the people
directly or indirectly through their representatives. The institutional machinery of democratic
decentralisation is necessarily elective. Democratic decentralisation is thus a political ideal
and local self-government is its institutional form. In India, it is the panchayati raj institutions
which are the institutional form of democratic decentralisation.
Panchayati Raj
Panchayati Raj Institutions have been set up in our country as a result of the
recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta committee. This committee proposed a three tier
system consisting of Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level
and Zila Parishad at the district level. Panchayati Raj system came into existence in 1959
with two basic objectives. These were (1) democratic decentralization and (2) local
participation in planned programmes. This was a big step forward in the process of
development. Panchayati Raj system is decentralized, three-tier structure of rural local self
government in India. It is based on three principles: Decentralized Planning, Community
Participation in Development Programme, and Development of Leadership at Village
Level.The Seventy-Third Amendment Act, 1992 provided a constitutional status to the
Panchayati Raj Institutions. This Act was brought in to force by a notification with effect
from April 24, 1993.
The special features of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 are:
 Gram Sabha-The Act has restored the important role of the Gram Sabha. It is clear
that the primary source of democratic power is in the village. The Gram Sabha is
expected to be an active institution for starting all development activities based on
local needs.
 Three-tier Model-The country will have a uniform three-tier systemof panchayats (at
village, intermediate and district levels). Only the states with a population less than
twenty lakhs would not need to establish a panchayat at the intermediate level
 Reservation of Seats- The Act provides for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes in every panchayat in proportion to their population. One-third
of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will also be reserved
for women.
  Composition of Panchayats-Direct election to the panchayat is one of the
distinguishing features of this Amendment.
 Duration of Panchayats - Every panchayat shall remain in office for five years
normally.
 Conduct of Elections- The State Election Commission will be responsible for
conducting elections.
 Finance Commission- In order that enough funds are made available to the
panchayats for initiating various development activities, this act provides for the
constitution of a Finance Commission in every state.
 Development Activities-The Act gives powers and responsibilities to the panchayats
to plan and execute economic development programmes. Such responsibilities include
the making of plans for economic development and social justice and the
implementation of schemes listed in the Eleventh Schedule. These activities as listed
for the panchayat institutions may be grouped under five categories for academic
purposes.
i) Economic Development: This includes anti-poverty programmes, such as JRY,
IRDP, etc. The other areas are agriculture, land improvement, minor irrigation,
animal husbandry, fishery, social forestry, minor forest produce, small scale and
cottage industry, fuel and fodder.
ii) Education: This includes Primary and secondary schools, non-formal education,
libraries, technical training and cultural activities.
iii) Health: There are two items related to health. These are health and sanitation and
family welfare.
iv) Welfare, including Women and Child development: The items which include social
welfare, welfare of weaker sections, public distribution system and women and child
development.
v) Infrastructure Development: such as roads, housing, drinking water, markets,
electrification, maintenance of community assets, etc..

Panchayati Raj Institutions

This is a three tier system consisting of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilaparishad.
The gram sabha is an active body but does not consists of elected representatives. The
structure and functions of various institutions are as follows:
Gram Sabha
It consists of all adult members of the village. Gram Sabha is the village assembly. They meet
at least twice a year. The recent Act has envisaged the gram sabha as the foundation of
Panchayati Raj system having powers ensured by the State Legislatures. Village level
problems and policy decisions are discussed in the meeting. The gram sabha considers
proposal for taxation, discusses the annual programmes and elects members of the Gram
Panchayat.
Gram Panchayat
 Gram Panchayat or village panchayat is the self -government at the village level, It is the
executive organ of the gram sabha.lts member strength varies from 15 to 30. The members
are elected by gram sabha. The population covered varies widely from 5000 to 15,OO0 or
above, distributed over 3-5 villages. Elected members select their leader called sarpanch. The
members of the panchayat hold office for a period of 5 years. Every village panchayat has an
elected president known as Sarpanch, a vice president and a panchayat secretary.The money
that gram panchayat needs for the work comes in two ways. It levies and collects some taxes.
But as villages are usually small, their income through taxes is not enough. They get a large
part of their income in the form of grant-in-aid from State Government.The functions are as
follows:
 Civic administration including sanitation, water supply, electricity and public health
 Social and economic development of the village.
 Growth of agriculture by distributing seeds which the government provides. It
 promotes cottage industries in its area.
 Maintenance of register of births and deaths in its area of its jurisdiction.
 Maintenance of village library, cleanliness of ponds and streets and sulabbshochalyas

Panchayat Samiti
It is the Block Samiti at Intermediate Level. It is the middle level institution of
Panchayat System. This is the panchayat at the block level and is also called Block
Samiti. The block consists of about 100 villages and a population of 50,000 to
120,000. Panchayat Samiti consists of the following members:
 All the presidents of the Gram Panchayats in a single block.
 Members of Parliament and State legislature of that block.
 Some representatives of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and women co-
operative societies nominated by Panchayat Samiti.
 Tbe Block Development 0fficer is the ex-officio member and secretary.
 The district health officer is advisor to this Samiti in health related matters
This samiti does not have power of taxation, but 20% of land revenue collected from
samiti area is given to it by the government and also some additional government grant is
made available to the samiti from time to time.The functions are as follows:
 Scrutiny and approval of Gram Panchayat budget allocated by the government.
 Implementation of various development works
 Co-ordination of the plans of Gram Panchayats
 Necessary supervision and guidance in the execution of works.
 Provision of relief in case of natural calamities.
 Promotion of small scale industries, cottage industries, education, improving animal
husbandry etc.

Zila Parishad
 Zila Parishad is the top level institution. This institution is at the district level. It is very
important body because it acts as the link between the village administration and State
Government. Grants are received from the state government.15% of land revenue given to
it by the government to meet the contingent expenses of non-official members.
The Zila Parishad consists of the following members: '
 Heads of all departments of districts (10 members)-They are ex-officio members i.e.
without the right to vote.
 District health officer is one of the members.
 Chair Persons of all panchayat samitis of that district.
 Members of Parliament and members of Legislative Assembly and Legislative
Council of the district.
 Representatives of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women co-operative
societies.
 Persons with experience in administration, public life or rural development.
 Members of ZilaParishad also elect a president from amongst themselves.
 The Collector is adviser to the Zila Parishad.
The functions are as follows:
 It is primarily a co-ordinating and supervisory agency of the whole district.
 It co-ordinates the development plan for that area in association with district officer or
collector who is the administrative head.
 Any special development programme may be assigned to Zila Parishad by the State
Government from time to time.
 It scrutinizes and approves budgets of the Block Samities.