Panchayats

Introduction

The word panchayat means ‘assembly of five’, and raj means the ‘rule’. Panchayats is one of the oldest forms of governance that develops and controls government acts in rural areas under the Indian government. It is a system that consists of developing the economical and ruling structure in rural villages in India. The modern panchayat Raj system after 1992, by the 73rd constitutional amendment. Panchayat raj is also known as gram panchayat, and it has different types and parts to control the area properly. 

Concept of panchayats in rural areas

Panchayat is a system of local self-government in rural India. It is given constitutional status under the 73rd constitutional amendment act of 1992. Panchayat Raj is not a new concept in India. India has had this concept of a five-person council from very ancient times. Gandhi also has an opinion on panchayat empowerment in developing the rural areas. Balwant Rai first proposed the formal structure of the panchayat in 1957. It recommended the establishment of a democratic decentralisation scheme, which was formally developed as panchayat Raj. 

Different levels of panchayats 

The panchayat or Panchayat Raj system has three levels formed with different responses to develop the rural areas. The three-level are constructed in different ways with different duties. 

Gram panchayat: Gram panchayat is a group of villages divided into smaller parts, known as wards. Each of them selects representatives by electing someone known as a panch or ward member. The gram sabha members elect the members for each ward by direct election. Ward members elect the gram panchayat pradhan or president of the gram panchayat under the rules of the state act. A gram panchayat gets elected for five years, and a secretary is usually assigned with the gram panchayat’s administrative duties. 

Block panchayat

Panchayat Samiti or block panchayat is the intermediate level of the panchayat raj structure. It acts as a link between gram panchayat and district panchayat. This block panchayat is not holding seats for panchayat Samiti. Instead, they include sarpanches and upa sarpanches from gram panchayats. They are allotted with duty as per their ranks, and there is the administrative officer who selects the Panchayat Samiti. 

District panchayat 

It is known as Zila Parishad or district council, and it is the third tier of panchayati raj. The chairperson of block Samiti represents the district council. Like block panchayats, MP and MLA are also members of the district council. The government here appoints a CEO to carry the administrative part of the district panchayat, and the chairperson of Zila Parishad is the chairperson of the district panchayat. 

Features of panchayat raj according to 73rd Amendment act 1992 

The 73rd Amendment act 1992 added a new Part IX to the constitution. It also added 29 functional items for panchayats and empowered the panchayat raj institutions. The features of amendments are listed below,

• Organisation of gram sabha
• Three tier panchayat level creation
• All posts should be filled with direct elections
• The minimum voting age for panchayat raj institution will be twenty-one years
• There would be a reservation of seats for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. For women, there will be one-third of the seat reservation
• The state election commission would conduct the election
• The tenure of the panchayat and each level is selected for 5 years
• A state finance commission should be constituted every five years

Relationship of panchayat and rural development 

The panchayat and rural development department are directly related as it works to enhance livelihood opportunities, provide social security, reduce chronic poverty, and work for rural low-income families. Panchayat and rural development departments implement different programs to empower the poor rural culture, provide rights based on law, and aim to transform the geography of poverty in the state. The main objective is to develop rural areas by providing various programs, such as

• Reduction of rural poverty
• Development of rural infrastructure 
• Employment generation in rural areas
• Housing for poor and rural people
• Community participation
• Removal of regional imbalance 

Conclusion 

Panchayats are the basic units of local administration that are helping to develop poor and rural parts of India. In India, the Panchayat Raj is now directly functioning with the government as a system. This system currently exists in all the states except Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Union Territories except Delhi. This article has covered the basic construction of panchayat and the idea of the panchayat, and its responsibility for Indian rural development.