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PANCHAYATI RAJ - GK NOTES
GK NOTES
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Panchayati raj
The Panchayat is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
"Panchayat" literally means assembly (yat) of five (panch) wise and respected elders chosen and
accepted by the village community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between
individuals and villages. Modern Indian government has decentralised several administrative
functions to the village level, empowering elected gram panchayats. Gram panchayats are not to
be confused with the unelected khappanchayats (or caste panchayats) found in some parts of
India.
Panchayati raj
The term ‘panchayat raj’ is relatively new, having originated during the British administration.
'Raj' literally means governance or government. Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj, a
decentralized form of Government where each village is responsible for its own affairs, as the
foundation of India's political system. His term for such a vision was "Gram Swaraj" (Village
Self-governance).
It was adopted by state governments during the 1950s and 60s as laws were passed to establish
Panchayats in various states. It also found backing in the Indian Constitution, with the 73rd
amendment in 1992 to accommodate the idea. The Amendment Act of 1992 contains provision
for devolution of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats to both for preparation of plans
for economic development and social justice and for implementation in relation to twenty-nine
subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution.
The panchayats receive funds from three sources
(i) local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission,
(ii) funds for implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes, and
(iii) funds released by the state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance
Commi
ssions.
In the history of Panchayati Raj in India, on 24 April 1993, the Constitutional (73rd Amendment)
Act, 1992 came into force to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions. This
Act was extended to Panchayats in the tribal areas of eight States, namely Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan from 24
December 1996.
The Act aims to provide 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all States having population of over
2 million, to hold Panchayat elections regularly every 5 years, to provide reservation of seats for
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women, to appoint State Finance Commission to make
recommendations as regards the financial powers of the Panchayats and to constitute District
Planning Committee to prepare draft development plan for the district.
Powers and responsibilities are delegated to Panchayats at the appropriate level :-
Preparation of plan for economic development and social justice.
Implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice in relation to 29
subjects given in Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
To levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.
Village level (panchayat)
Panchayati Raj is a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of
administration. It has 3 levels: village, block and district. At the village level, it is called a
Panchayat. It is a local body working for the good of the village. The number of members
usually ranges from 7 to 31; occasionally, groups are larger, but they never have fewer than 7
members.
The block-level institution is called the Panchayat Samiti. The district-level institution is called
the Zilla Parishad.
Gram panchayat
Gram sabha is constituted by all members of a village over the age of 18 years.The Gram Sabha
elects the Gram Panchayat a council of elected members taking decisions on issues key to a
village's social, cultural and economic life: thus, a Gram Panchayat is also a village's body of
elected representatives. The council leader is named Sarpanch in Hindi, and each member is a
Gram Panchayat Sadasya or Panch. The panchayat acts as a conduit between the local
government and the people. Decisions are taken by a majority vote (Bahumat). It is said that in
such a system, each villager can voice his opinion in the governance of his village.[citation
needed] Decisions are taken without lengthy legal procedures and the process remains for the
most part transparent.[citation needed] Panchayat is an ancient Indian word that means means
Five Persons ( Headman ). Since its inception, Panchayat has come a long way, it is currently
included in the constitution of the Government of India.
Intermediate level panchayat
Also known as Block Panchayat, this is the panchayat set at the block or tehsil level for a group
of grama panchayats in States where the total population exceeds 20 lakh. Block level panchayat
is not advisable for many States like Kerala.
District level panchayat
This is the panchayats at the district level. Every district in the States where panchayat raj is
implemented will have a District or Zilla Panchayats.
Functions:
1.Provide essential services and facilities to the rural population
2.Supply improved seeds to farmers. Inform them of new farming techniques
3.Set up and run schools and libraries in the rural areas
4.Start Primary Health Centers and hospitals in villages. Start vaccination drives against
epidemics
5.Execute plans for the development of the scheduled castes and tribes. Run ashramshalas for
adivasi children. Set up free hostels for them
6.Encourage entrepreneurs to start small-scale industries and implement rural employment
schemes
7.Construct bridges, roads & other public facilities and their maintenance
8.Provide employment
Sources of Income:
1.Taxes on water, pilgrimage, markets, etc.
2.Fixed grant from the State Government in proportion with the land revenue and money for
works and schemes assigned to the Parishad.
