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Panchayati Raj

Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-governance in rural India that empowers villages to manage their own affairs through elected bodies. The system includes a Gram Sabha, which consists of all adult residents, and a Gram Panchayat, elected for five years, that oversees development projects. The Gram Sabha ensures accountability of the Gram Panchayat and monitors its actions, while funding comes from various sources including taxes and government schemes.

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4K views12 pages

Panchayati Raj

Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-governance in rural India that empowers villages to manage their own affairs through elected bodies. The system includes a Gram Sabha, which consists of all adult residents, and a Gram Panchayat, elected for five years, that oversees development projects. The Gram Sabha ensures accountability of the Gram Panchayat and monitors its actions, while funding comes from various sources including taxes and government schemes.

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14065
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What is Panchayati Raj?

Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-governance (Self-


governance refers to the ability of a community,
organization, or region to govern itself without external
control) in rural India. It allows villages and rural areas to
manage their own affairs through elected bodies. Their aim
is to promote decentralized governance and empower local
communities to make decisions about their development.
The Panchayati Raj System can be
divided into
three levels.
What is a Gram Sabha?
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all
adults who live in the area covered by a
Panchayat. This could be only one
village or a few villages. In some states,
as in the example above, a village
meeting is held for each village. Anyone
who is 18 years old or more and who
has the right to vote is a member of the
Gram Sabha.
In a village Panchayat, the area is divided into smaller
units called wards, with each ward electing a
representative known as the Ward Member (Panch). The
Gram Sabha elects a Sarpanch, who serves as the
Panchayat President. The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch
together form the Gram Panchayat, which is elected for
five years. The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary,
appointed by the government, who is responsible for
organizing meetings and maintaining records of the
Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat proceedings.
The Gram Sabha plays a crucial role in ensuring that the
Gram Panchayat remains accountable and responsible.
It is the forum (A "forum" refers to a place, meeting,
and other places where people can come together to
discuss, share ideas, or make decisions on a particular
topic.) where the Gram Panchayat's plans and work are
presented to the public. The Gram Sabha helps prevent
misuse of funds and favouritism, and it monitors the
actions of elected representatives, holding them
accountable to the people who elected them.
The Gram Panchayat holds regular
meetings to work on development
projects for the villages it oversees, but its
plans need approval from the Gram
Sabha. In some places, Gram Sabhas
create committees—like construction or
development ones—that include both
Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat
members. These committees team up to
get specific tasks done.
Sources of funds for the Panchayat ‰
Collection of taxes on houses, market
places etc. Government scheme funds
received through various departments
of the government – through the
Janpad and Zila Panchayats. Donations
for community works, etc.
Within the guidelines given in
the Constitution each state in the
country has its own laws with regard
to Panchayats. The idea is to provide
more and more space for people to
participate and raise their voices.
Please answer the following
questions in
your own way.
The answer / explanation
can be simple.
I hope that everyone
Participates.
Thank You 

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