The panchayati raj is a South
Asian political
system mainly in India, Pakistan , Bangladesh and Nepal . It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian
subcontinent. The word "panchayat"
literally means "assembly" (ayat) of five (panch) wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by
the local community. However, there are different forms of assemblies.
Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and
villages. Modern Indian government has decentralized several administrative
functions to the local level, empowering elected gram panchayats. Gram panchayats are not to be confused with the unelected
khap panchayats (or caste panchayats) found in some parts of
India
Structure and Major
Functions of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India
Though the basic
structure of the PRIs is identical across the states of India, it is described
via different nomenclatures in different states. Panchayats in every state has
its own characteristics and even election procedures to these institutions are at
variance.
A District Panchayat or Zilla
Parishad is co terminus with the district. Each district has one Zilla
Parishad.
Similarly Block
Panchayats or Panchayat Samitis are co terminus with blocks of
the said district.
A Block may have several
villages within it, but Gram Panchayats are not necessarily co terminus with
each village. Depending on the size of population (as a matter of fact, number
of voters) a Gramis defined under the law with a specific
geographical area, which may consist of a single village or a cluster of
adjoining villages.
Members of Panchayats:
A. Zilla
Panchayat:
Each block Panchayat under a ZP elects one/two/three members directly
(depending on number of voters within it). Presidents of all the Block
Panchayats are also ex-officio members of the ZP. In some states the Member of
Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Member of Parliament (MP) of the
district/constituency are also ex-officio members.
B. Block Panchayat or Panchayat
Samiti:
Each GP under a Block Panchayat elects one/two/three members directly to the
Block Panchayat. GP pradhans are ex-officio members of the Block Panchayats.
C. Gram Panchayat:
A Gram as defined under the Act (meaning a village or a cluster of villages) is
divided into a minimum of five constituencies (again depending on the number of
voters the Gram is having). From each of these constituencies one member is
elected. Body of these elected members is called the Gram Panchayat. Size of
the GPs varies widely from state to state. In states like West Bengal, Kerala
etc. a GP has about 20000 people on an average, while in many other states it
is around 3000 only.
D. Gram Sabha:
In most of the states, each constituency of the members of the Gram Panchayat
is called the Gram Sabha and all the voters of the same
constituency are members of this body. However, in some states this is called
Ward Sabha/Palli Sabha etc. In West Bengal it is called Gram Sansad (village
parliament). Gram Sabha in West Bengal has a different meaning. Here all the
voters of the Gram Panchayat as a whole constitute the Gram Sabha.
Under the Constitution
there can be only three tiers of the Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is not a
tier of the PR system. It does not have any executive function and operates
as a recommending body only.
Gram Sabhas hold
meetings normally 2 to 4 times a year, but can meet as and when necessary. In
some states dates of these meetings are fixed (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc.)
while in others dates are fixed by the Gram Panchayats. Issues to be discussed
in the meetings can be wide ranging but the essential agenda should include:
Annual Action Plan and Budget, Annual Accounts and Annual report of the GP,
selection of beneficiaries for different social service programmes (Indira Awas
Yojana (IAY), Pension Schemes etc.), identification of schemes for preparation
of Annual Plan for development programmes (e.g. MGNREGS) of GP, consideration
of the Audit reports, analyses of GP’s performance etc.
The diagram at the end
of the note demonstrates the typical structure of the rural local governance
system in India, taking the example of West Bengal.
Functioning of Panchayats
As per the Constitution,
Panchayats in their respective areas would prepare plans for economic
development and social justice and also execute them. To facilitate this,
states are supposed to devolve functions to Panchayats (29 subjects as
mandated) and also make funds available for doing these (as per State Finance
Commission’s recommendations). The functions of Panchayats are divided among
different Committees (as ministries are formed in state and union governments),
which are called Standing Committees/Sthayee Samitis/Upa Samitis etc. One of
the members remains in charge of each of such committees while the over-all
charge rests with the chairperson of the Panchayat. Panchayats are supported by
a host of other of officials, the number of which varies from state to state.
Apart from grants
received from the government under the recommendation of the Finance
Commission, Panchayats receive schematic funds for implementation of schemes
(MGNREGS, BRGF, IAY etc.). They can also raise revenue by imposing taxes, fees,
penalties etc. as per rule of the state.
Diagram: Rural Local Governance System (Panchayati Raj Institutions or PRIs) in West Bengal
NB-I: All the Panchayat Samitis within the geographical
limit of a district come under the said District Panchayat or Zilla Parishad.
NB-II:All the Gram Panchayats within the geographical limit
of Panchayat Samiti come under it. Panchayat Samiti and Development Block is
co-Terminus.
NB-III:A Gram Panchayat will have at least five and maximum
of 30 members. Each member has a specified area and voters (constituency) that
he represents which is called Gram Sansad (village parliament)
GUS: Gram Unnayan Samiti (village development committee) is
a small committee constituted by Gram Sansad and chaired by the elected GP
member of the same Gram Sansad. Its function is to help the GP prepare village
level plan execute them though social mobilization etc.
source: 1. wikipedia
2. arthapedia.in
.jpg)
