User:Bomdar Daknyo

Importance of Panchayati Raj: Right up to the British period,panchayats played a very important role in the social life of villagers. Because it's resolve minor disputes among villagers. Under the Bristish rule panchayats lost their respect and power which they had earlier enjoyed because of the new system of courts laws and revenue collection.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) suggested ways of democratic decentralization in a three-tier structure of panchayati ram. This meant that panchayat ran should be set up at three levels. They should be furnished with sufficient powers and resources. These three-tiers of panchayati ram are_
 * Zila Parishad at District Level;
 * Panchayat Samiti at intermediate or block level;
 * village or gram panchayat at village level.

The Ashok Mehta Committee set up by govt.to review panchayati raj submitted its report in 1998. This Committee felt that panchayati raj had inculcated political awareness among rural masses. However, it had not been successful in carrying out economic development. Unlike the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, the Ashoka Mehta Committee suggested a two-tier structure of panchayati raj. These two-tier were to be_
 * Zila parishad at district level
 * mandal panchayat, an administrative unit between Village panchayat and panchayat samiti. In th two-tier system, the main emphasis was laid on zila parishad and not on panchayat samiti as in the case of the earlier Committee report.

Salient features of 73rd Amendment _ the 73rd amendment to the constitution enacted in 1992 made a statutory provision for the establishment, empowerment and functioning of panchayati raj institution. Some provision of this amendment are binding on the states while other have been left to ne decided by respective state legislatures as their discretion. Salient features of this amendment are as follows_
 * _organisation of gram Sahara
 * _creation of three-tier panchayati raj structure at the zila,block and village levels
 * _almost all posts, at all levels to be filled by direct election
 * minimum age for contesting elections to the panchayati raj institutions be 21 years.

Composition of panchayats_ the panchayati raj system as established in accordance with the 73rd amendment, is a three-tier structure based on direct elections at all the three-tier: village, intermediate and district. Exemption from the intermediate tiers given to the small states having less than 20lakhs population. It means they have freedom not to have the middle level of panchayat. The amendment provides for continuous existence of panchayats.the normal term of a panchayat is for 5 years. If a panchayat is dissolved earlier, election are held within 6 months. State legislature may endow panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable the panchayats to become institutions of self government at grassroots level. Responsible may given to them to prepare plan for economic development and social justice.

Three-tier Structure of panchayati raj_ (a) gram sabha, the symbol of direct democracy. This is an important feature of the 73rd amendment. It consists of all adult residents within a village or group of Villages. Generally two meetings of gram sabha are held every year.
 * _ panchayat at Village level_this is th basic or grassroots level of panchayati raj. The panchayat for Village or group of Villages includes_

(b) gram panchayat. The lower tier of the panchayati raj system in the country is the Village level panchayat. It is known in most of the states as gram panchayat. The members of the gram panchayat are directly elected by the people. The no.of members of a gram panchayat is fixed on the basis of Village population. 1/3rd of the total number of seats are reserved for women; and some for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes including 1/3rd for women of Scheduled caste and tribes. Chairperson of gram panchayats are called by different names in different state as 'Sarpanch, Pradhan or President. There is vice chairperson also. Both are elected by members of the panchayats.

(c) nyaya panchayat_these are judicial panchayats and reminder of ancient Village panchayats that settled local disputes. They are set up to provide speedy and inexpensive justice. Jurisdiction of Nyaya panchayats varies from state to state.

Functions of panchayati raj institutions_ a) gram panchayat_ some state distinguished between obligatory and optional functions of gram panchayat while other states do not make this distinction. The civic function relating to sanitation, cleaning of public roads,drains and ponds,public toilets and lavatories, primary health care,vaccination, supply of drinking water,constructing public wells, street lighting, social health and primary and adult education, etc.are obligatory function of Village panchayats.

b)Panchayat samiti_ panchayat samiti are at the hub development activities. They are headed by Block Development Officer (B.D.O). Some function are intrusted to them like agriculture, land improvements, watershed development, social and farm forestry, technological and vocational education, etc.

c) Zila Parishad_ Zila linked panchayat samiti within the district. It coordinates their activities and supervises their functions. It prepared district plans and integrated samiti plans into districts plan for submission to the state government. Zila parishad looks after development work in the entire district.it undertake scheme to improve agricultural production, exploit ground water resources, extend rural electrification and distribution and initiate employment generating activities, construct roads and other public works.

Evaluation of panchayati raj_ The concept of the grassroots democracy at both rural and urban levels has not flourished in the country. Some of the major reasons behind this failure are politicization of administration, entry of criminal elements in the elected bodies,rampant corruption, caste and group divisions, priority to self interest over public welfare and electoral malpractice. The latest constitutional amendment's have certainly broadened the financial resources of the local self-governing institutions. However, they remain starved of funds. It is necessary that the people participate actively in democratically elected panchayats. This can be ensured through gram sabhas. Through gram sabhas, the people can question and demand explanation from panchayats. Gram sabha can harmonise needs and priorities of people and also plan direction of development.