Composition of Panchayati Raj System

The necessity of Panchayati raj system composition

A local self-governing assembly for the development of rural communities is essential to address the problems that arise in remote locations to the State Government. This will check and repair the loopholes in the existing budget and policies. The latest layout of the Public Raj Institution has been laid out in the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution. 

Composition of Panchayati Raj System in India – historical background 

The necessity to build local self-government was debated at the State Legislature by several assemblies such as the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee. Since 1957, developments were suggested continuously until 1992 when finally President Shri Narsimha Rao approved the composition of the Panchayati Raj System in India by adding section eleven of the Indian Constitution. As per the reports submitted to the Indian Government by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in 1957 finally the democratic decentralization was put into place across villages outside the Municipal Corporation. 

The significant suggestions of the Panchayati raj system composition form included the formation of panchayat at the individual village level, sub-divisional Panchayat Samiti at the block tier, and the distinct level Zila Parishad. 

The National Development Council rubber-stamped these suggestions but clearly stated that there must not be a common pattern followed to build the institutions. Different states can make their own set of customized regulations given the basic outlines are abided by. For example, some states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, etc. have gone one step further to create a four-tier Panchayat Raj Institution that consisted of Nyay Panchayats. These are nothing but local self-governing legal bodies. These judicial authorities are entrusted by the State Government to collect taxes from their designated area and to establish law and order. 

In 1985, the Planning Commission appointed the G V K Rao bench to scrutinize the administrative setup in rural communities of India. The assembly concluded that primacy of budgeting, planning, and controlling is to be handed over to the Zila Parishad at the district level to improve the robustness and transparency of the developmental projects. Also, the members must be elected through direct voting cast by the Gram Sabha members except for the Chairman of the State Legislature who’ll be elected by indirect election. This emphasized the establishment of decentralized democracy. 

Gram Sabha’s role in the composition of the Panchayati raj system in India 

As per Article 243(b) of the Indian Constitution, the gram sabha is the only permanent body of the Panchayat Raj System. Gram Sabha is a community that includes a few representatives among the voters of the village concerned. Sometimes the members might belong from more than one village. The person who wishes to become a part of the Gram Sabha must be enlisted under the voter’s list besides being a resident of that village. 

The composition of the Panchayati Raj System in India is looked after by the state legislative body. Thus only they are responsible for delegation of the following powers to the gram sabha members:

• Supervision of primary education and healthcare facilities in the villages, regulating the factors that will favour agriculture, ensuring women empowerment, etc. 
• Spreading awareness regarding the several central and state schemes among the inhabitants and filling their applications if they are not able to do so. 
• Collecting taxes from families and extending the facilities of specific welfare schemes from time to time. 

Composition of Panchayati Raj System in India – all three tiers

Panchayati raj system composition depicts three distinct levels namely the panchayat or self-governing assembly at the village level, the panchayat Samiti at the subdivision level, and the highest level or the Zila Parishad. 

Panchayat – Composition

Each village is segregated into several wards. Each ward has its head, namely the ‘Panch’. The ward heads report to the village President also known as the ‘Sarpanch’. Sarpanch is elected by the members of the Gram Sabha or the village council. Apart from this, a Secretary is appointed by the state government. This Secretary of the Panchayat calls for meetings where the progress of development programs are discussed and tracked in presence of the Gram Sabha and the Sarpanch. 

Panchayat – Role

The panchayat is delegated with the duties of supervising and recording the growth of programs about the construction of roads, public buildings, etc. They also collect taxes and extend the basic education and healthcare facilities to the inhabitants. 

Panchayat Samiti – Composition 

For states having a population of more than 2 million this panchayat Samiti or the Janpad acts as a bridge between the Panchayat and the Zila Parishad. A panchayat Samiti includes approximately ten villages (a block) and is led by a Block Development Officer who is assigned to the administrative role.

Zila Parishad – composition 

The proposals from the individual Panchayats reach the Zila Parishad at the district level after getting shortlisted by the BDOs according to their importance. The Zila Parishad makes the budget and plans the course of action to meet the standards. The final approval is given by the State Legislature. 

Conclusion 

The Zila Parishad acts in close association with the State Legislative body while the Panchayat acts as the village level executive body. Democratic decentralisation is maintained throughout the Panchayat Raj Institution as all the members except the Panchayat Secretary are elected through direct voting.