Local Government and Administration (Panchayati Raj)

Introduction: Panchayati Raj

 The Panchayati Raj is a type of local governance in which each village is in charge of its affairs. The Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 includes provisions for the Panchayati Raj system to be given powers and responsibilities for developing economic growth and social justice programmes.

This system makes essential decisions in rural areas. It brings democracy to the people by actively participating in decision-making and seeking answers from elected officials.

Panchayat

• Every Panchayat in a village is further split into wards or smaller sections. 
• The Ward Member is a representative elected by each ward (Panch). 
• The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch from the Gram Panchayat are elected for five years by all members of the Gram Sabha. 
• The Gram Panchayat also has a secretary who is also the Gram Sabha Secretary. Importantly, this individual is not elected but appointed by the government.
• The Secretary is in charge of calling Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat meetings and maintaining a log of all the activities. 

Panchayats are divided into three levels:

• The Gram Panchayat: The first tier or level of democratic government is called the Gram Panchayat.
• The Janpad Panchayat or the Panchayat Samiti: The Block level is represented by the Janpad Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti. It is further subdivided into many Gram Panchayats.
• District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad: The District Panchayat, also known as the Zila Parishad, is the administrative level just above the Panchayat Samiti. It creates district-level development plans. Besides, it also administers money distribution between all Gram Panchayats along with the Panchayat Samitis. 

Gram Sabha

• It is a gathering of all adults who live in the Panchayat’s jurisdiction, which could be a single village or several villages. 
• In some states, each village has its own village meeting. 
• A member of the Gram Sabha is anyone 18 years old or above and has the ability to vote.

Role of Gram Sabha

• The Gram Sabha meets to discuss important local issues such as road repair plans and water shortages, among other things. 
• Gram Sabha also chooses members of the Gram Panchayat.
• Guarantee Gram Panchayat accountability: The Gram Sabha is the place where all plans for Gram Panchayat’s work are presented to the people. 
• It prevents the Panchayat from wasting money or discriminating against certain individuals by keeping an eye on the elected representatives and holding them accountable to the people who elected them.

The Gram Panchayat

In Indian communities, a Gram Panchayat is a basic village-governing institution. In India, it is a democratic framework at the grassroots level. It is a political organisation that serves as the village’s cabinet. 

This is a council made up of multiple ward members known as ward Panchs, as well as a President or Sarpanch. They are elected directly by the entire adult population of the ward or village.

Responsibilities of a Gram Panchayat:

• Building and upkeep of water sources, roads, drainage, school buildings, as well as other communally owned resources
• Assessment and collection of local taxes.
• Putting government plans into action to create jobs in the village. 

Funding sources for the Gram Panchayat:

• Taxes on houses, marketplaces, and other properties are collected. 
• Government plan payments are received through a variety of government departments, including the Janpad and Zila Panchayats. 
• Donations towards community projects, etc.

Functions of a Gram Panchayat: 

The Gram Panchayat meets regularly, and one of its main responsibilities is to enact development projects for all villages that are under its jurisdiction. However, it is required for the Gram Sabha to approve the Gram Panchayat’s work. Further, Gram Sabhas in various states form committees such as development and construction committees. Certain members of the Gram Sabha and others from the Gram Panchayat form these committees, which collaborate to complete specific responsibilities assigned to them.

Conclusion

According to the Constitution’s provisions, each state in the country has its own Panchayat legislation. The idea basically, is to provide people more possibilities to participate in and express themselves. For democracy to succeed at the top, it must be developed from the ground up. In today’s time, Gram Panchayats are increasingly taking on developmental tasks in addition to their conventional civic duties. There will undoubtedly be more problems ahead for the little republics, but they are now well-positioned to meet them.