Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was appointed in 1957. It was one of many committees that were made during the 1950s and 60s to check if various government departments were functioning properly and carrying out their duties as mandated. The Committee was appointed in 1957 by the Indian Government to look into the functions of the Community Development Programme and National Extension Service. This committee was primarily tasked with formulating the operations and functions of the newly conceptualised Panchayati Raj. The Panchayat Samiti was the second tier of the system and was the main area of inquiry for the committee. 

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

These organisations were tasked to oversee localised and regional development of not only urban but rural places as well. The Committee was appointed in 1957 to check what changes needed to be brought in which category and whether the development was being carried out as planned. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was appointed in 1957 and recommended decentralisation in the delegation of power and functions at divisional and sub-divisional levels. Balwant Rai Mehta was the elected head of the committee and was also the chief minister of Gujarat. 

Decentralisation 

The concept of decentralisation was integral to the findings of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee. Decentralisation meant the delegation of power, responsibility, and authority to lower levels of administration to not accumulate power at the centre or in the hands of a select few. Decentralisation was thought to be an important measure because of the risk of red-tapism and autocratic bureaucracy that it could lead to if power was left unchecked. There were many approaches to decentralisation but the Committee found it best that rural regions must have a sort of continuation of their prevailing system of leadership and governance only being advanced by systematic administrative measures. The entire system would be divided into levels with these local self-governing bodies being under the direct control of both the state and the central government. 

Recommendations

The Balwant Rai Mehta committee recommended the following things:

• Democratic decentralisation of power through the creation of a 3-layered Panchayati Raj system
• The administration had to be handed over to the local governing bodies named Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad
• The functions, organisations, responsibilities, funding, and duties were all laid down in the report for each of the institutions
• Proper representation of the SC, ST, and OBCs had to be provided

Significance

Through a more systematic approach taken throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the panchayat system could regain its footing. The Committee was succeeded by the Ashok Mehta Committee which was tasked with finding out what improvements had to be made to the Panchayati system. 

Conclusion

The Government had asked the committee to look through the programmes that were initiated through the National Extension Service and Community Development Programme. Due to the findings of the committee, the first step toward Decentralisation had taken place with some states forming Panchayats at various levels.