Panchayati Raj Panchayati Raj SystemSystem

andandDistrict InitiativesDistrict Initiatives

K M MishraK M Mishra

OObjectivesbjectives

Panchayati Raj systemPanchayati Raj system Advantages, DisadvantagesAdvantages, Disadvantages Plans linked to potential(PLPs)Plans linked to potential(PLPs) Participatory role of village community in Participatory role of village community in

the planning process.the planning process. District Initiatives- DRDADistrict Initiatives- DRDA Empowerment of massesEmpowerment of masses Women empowerment.Women empowerment.

Panchayati Raj in IndiaPanchayati Raj in India

India has a chequered history of Panchayati Raj

Starting from a self-sufficient and self-governing village communities surviving the rise and fall of empires, to the modern legalized institutions of governance provided with Constitutional support.

During Rig Veda (1200 BC) the self governing bodies called Sabha existed.

Panchayati Raj in India Panchayati Raj in India (contd..)(contd..)

• Feudalistic system of governance during Mughal rule in the medieval India created a new class of feudal chiefs and revenue collectors (Zamindars)

• Panchayats (democratic systems) were never a priority to the British rulers. They were interested in “controlled local bodies

• During British rule, establishment of local civil and criminal courts, revenue and police eroded in value and effected the Panchayati System.

• For a sustainable economic growth to take place in any country, it is necessary that people participate in political process of the society.

VILLAGE GOVERNANCEVILLAGE GOVERNANCE

• The institution of Panchayati Raj is specifically designed for rural population with the basic objective of democratic decentralization and devolution of power to ensure accelerated socio-economic progress with every individual being the architect of his/her own government.

• Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of “Gram Swaraj” – Independent Village Republics and advocated Panchayati Raj, as a decentralized form of government where each village is responsible for its own Governance.

VILLAGE GOVERNANCE VILLAGE GOVERNANCE (contd..)(contd..)

• Similar sentiments were expressed by our first Similar sentiments were expressed by our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.

““India is poor because villages of India are poor. India will be rich if the villages of India are rich. Panchayats should be given greater powers, for we want the villagers to have a greater measure of swaraj (self government) in their own villages.”.”

• In the words of Prof Amartya Sen, Nobel In the words of Prof Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate, “Laureate, “It is empowerment that leads to entitlements and entitlements lead to enrichment.” .”

• Village governance is empowerment of Rural Village governance is empowerment of Rural India.India.

Panchayati Raj Post Independence eraPanchayati Raj Post Independence era

• The founding fathers of the Independent India recognized the concept of self governance in the

• Directive Principle of State Policy, vide Article 40, provided for setting up of village Panchayats.

• The Directive Principles of State Policy being non – justiciable , there was no pressure on any state to set up such a system. After independence, India accelerated the development through active participation of people at grass root level.

• Post Independence Scenario - The Post Independence Scenario - The decentralization of socio–economic decentralization of socio–economic development programmes - First Five Year development programmes - First Five Year Plan.Plan.

• Second Five Year Plan Conceptualize Second Five Year Plan Conceptualize National Extensive Service Blocks.National Extensive Service Blocks.

• The Plans fail to accomplish The Plans fail to accomplish decentralizationdecentralization

• 7373rdrd and 74 and 74thth amendment of Constitution of amendment of Constitution of India (1993) empowered local governments India (1993) empowered local governments – rural and urban , as constitutional entities – rural and urban , as constitutional entities and initiated a new chapter in the process and initiated a new chapter in the process of democratic decentralization in India.of democratic decentralization in India.

• Responsive Panchayats at Village level Responsive Panchayats at Village level (gram panchayats), Block level (gram panchayats), Block level (intermediate panchayats ) and District (intermediate panchayats ) and District level ( zila panchayats ) came in existence in level ( zila panchayats ) came in existence in the states.the states.

• ““Democracy at the grassroot level as it is at Democracy at the grassroot level as it is at the state level or national level.”the state level or national level.”

The Panchayat Raj SystemThe Panchayat Raj System

The Panchayat Raj System has three tier The Panchayat Raj System has three tier structuresstructures

• Gram Panchayat Gram Panchayat Gram Panchayat is the first level elected Gram Panchayat is the first level elected

body and the basic unit of democracy , is the body and the basic unit of democracy , is the local government with specific responsibilities. local government with specific responsibilities. Gram Sabha is the general body of the citizens Gram Sabha is the general body of the citizens of entire village .of entire village .

• Panchayat Samiti Panchayat samiti is a local government Panchayat samiti is a local government

body at the tehsil or Taluka level, is the link body at the tehsil or Taluka level, is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration.district administration.

• Zila PanchayatDistrict level of Panchayat Raj System the “Zila District level of Panchayat Raj System the “Zila Parishad”.Parishad”.

Panchayat SamitiPanchayat Samiti

Functions- Implement schemes for the development of agriculture. Establishment of primary health centers and primary

schools. Supply of drinking water, drainage, construction/repair

of roads. Development of cottage and small-scale industries and

opening of cooperative societies. Establishment of youth organizations.

Source of Income The main sources of income of the panchayat samiti are

grants-in-aid and loans from the State Govt.

Zila ParishadZila Parishad

Functions:• Provide essential services and facilities to the Provide essential services and facilities to the

rural population.rural population.• The planning and execution of the The planning and execution of the

development programmes for the district.development programmes for the district.• Supply improved seeds to farmers. Inform Supply improved seeds to farmers. Inform

them of new techniques and training in Agro them of new techniques and training in Agro production. production.

• Set up and run schools, Primary Health Set up and run schools, Primary Health Centers and hospitals in villages. Centers and hospitals in villages.

• Construct bridges, roads and take care of Construct bridges, roads and take care of public propertiespublic properties..

• Execute plans for the development of the Execute plans for the development of the scheduled castes and tribes. scheduled castes and tribes.

• Works for women empowerment as per Works for women empowerment as per government directives. government directives.

• Encourage entrepreneurs, small-scale industries, Encourage entrepreneurs, small-scale industries, cottage industries, handicraft, agriculture cottage industries, handicraft, agriculture produce processing, dairy farms, etc. produce processing, dairy farms, etc.

• Provide work for the poor people. (tribes, Provide work for the poor people. (tribes, scheduled caste, lower caste) and execute scheduled caste, lower caste) and execute poverty eradication programmes of the poverty eradication programmes of the government. government.

Source of Income:• Taxes on water, pilgrimage, markets, etc.Taxes on water, pilgrimage, markets, etc.• Grant from the State Government/Central Government.Grant from the State Government/Central Government.

Panchayat Raj Institutions TodayPanchayat Raj Institutions Today

About 3 million elected About 3 million elected representatives at all levels of the representatives at all levels of the panchayat one-third of which are panchayat one-third of which are women.women.

These members represent more than These members represent more than 2.4 lakh Gram Panchayats 2.4 lakh Gram Panchayats

About 6,000 intermediate level tiers About 6,000 intermediate level tiers More than 500 district panchayats. More than 500 district panchayats.

The new panchayats cover about 96 The new panchayats cover about 96 per cent of India's more than 5.8 lakh per cent of India's more than 5.8 lakh villagesvillages

Nearly 99.6 per cent of rural Nearly 99.6 per cent of rural population is covered.population is covered.

Challenges facing rural India are Challenges facing rural India are resolved by rural participation. resolved by rural participation.

The largest experiment in The largest experiment in decentralization of governance in the decentralization of governance in the history of humanity.history of humanity.

Achievements of Panchayat Raj Institutions Achievements of Panchayat Raj Institutions

The innovation has empowered the village The innovation has empowered the village communitycommunity

Widened the democratic base of rural India Widened the democratic base of rural India resulting in inclusive and integrated growth.resulting in inclusive and integrated growth.

Resulted in amazing development – women Resulted in amazing development – women empowerment and emergence of women as empowerment and emergence of women as leaders.leaders.

Large numbers of women are shouldering Large numbers of women are shouldering responsibilities with grace and competence, responsibilities with grace and competence, bringing enormous courage, enthusiasm and bringing enormous courage, enthusiasm and creativity.creativity.

Achievements of Panchayat Raj Institutions (contd..)Achievements of Panchayat Raj Institutions (contd..)

Empowerment with high degree of self confidence Empowerment with high degree of self confidence and self esteem coupled, with political awareness and self esteem coupled, with political awareness and service orientations. and service orientations.

Cross country rural market network- “Rural Cross country rural market network- “Rural Business Hubs”. Fusion of rural produce with Business Hubs”. Fusion of rural produce with corporate expertise. corporate expertise.

Instrumental in planning and executing N.R.E.G. Instrumental in planning and executing N.R.E.G. Act ensuring 100 day wage employment in every Act ensuring 100 day wage employment in every financial year. financial year.

Instrumental in implementing rural development Instrumental in implementing rural development schemes/ programmes of Central/ State schemes/ programmes of Central/ State governments.governments.

Aberrations in the EffortAberrations in the Effort

Bureaucratic methods of the State Bureaucratic methods of the State Governments dilute the spirit of Governments dilute the spirit of implementation.implementation.

In some cases Panchayats are becoming In some cases Panchayats are becoming an institutions to perpetuate cast an institutions to perpetuate cast inequalities, that already exist.inequalities, that already exist.

The power rooted in caste, gender and The power rooted in caste, gender and sometimes religion determines the sometimes religion determines the functioning of Panchayat system.functioning of Panchayat system.

District Rural Development AgencyDistrict Rural Development Agency

o The Principal organ at District level, to The Principal organ at District level, to develop District capabilities. develop District capabilities.

o Specialized and professional agency, Specialized and professional agency, capable of effective programme design, capable of effective programme design, and implementation of different anti-and implementation of different anti-poverty programmes. poverty programmes.

o Provide the linkage and support to the Provide the linkage and support to the implementing systems.implementing systems.

District Rural Development Agency (contd..)District Rural Development Agency (contd..)

o Provides synergies among different agencies Provides synergies among different agencies and bring about a convergence approach and bring about a convergence approach

o Catalyst to development process. Catalyst to development process. o Review the implementation process, ensure Review the implementation process, ensure

the benefits earmarked to target group (e.g. the benefits earmarked to target group (e.g. SC/ST/Women/Disabled) reach them.SC/ST/Women/Disabled) reach them.

o Improve/propagate the awareness Improve/propagate the awareness regarding rural development and poverty regarding rural development and poverty alleviation programmes.alleviation programmes.

o Empowering rural masses in their ability to Empowering rural masses in their ability to overcome poverty.overcome poverty.

StructureStructure

• Each DRDA is under the charge of a CEO- Each DRDA is under the charge of a CEO- Project Director.Project Director.

• Where there are no Zila Parishads a cell is Where there are no Zila Parishads a cell is created which maintains a separate identity.created which maintains a separate identity.

• Operational wings of DRDA look after Operational wings of DRDA look after Planning, Social Mobilization, Credit, Planning, Social Mobilization, Credit, Technologies, Self Employment, Women-Technologies, Self Employment, Women-cells, Watershed Management, Engineering cells, Watershed Management, Engineering and Accounts.and Accounts.

• A monitoring and evaluation wing overseen A monitoring and evaluation wing overseen headed by Project Economist.headed by Project Economist.

Key Areas for PRI for next 3-5 yearsKey Areas for PRI for next 3-5 years

• Energizing gram sabhas or village electorates. Ensuring Energizing gram sabhas or village electorates. Ensuring accountability and transparency in these bodies.accountability and transparency in these bodies.

• Sensitizing officials and facilitating stronger panchayat - Sensitizing officials and facilitating stronger panchayat - administration links. Enabling panchayats to deliver on administration links. Enabling panchayats to deliver on their promise of facilitating more equitable and effective their promise of facilitating more equitable and effective development.development.

• PRIs to develop broad based relationship with NGOs, state PRIs to develop broad based relationship with NGOs, state government and various institutes for greater impact and government and various institutes for greater impact and effectiveness.effectiveness.

• On going evaluation on PRIs capacities to effectively and On going evaluation on PRIs capacities to effectively and inclusively perform multiple development functions.inclusively perform multiple development functions.

• Help, generate pool of replicable ideas. Help, generate pool of replicable ideas.

• States to take PRI seriously and commit resources to them.States to take PRI seriously and commit resources to them.

Flagship Schemes for Rural DevelopmentFlagship Schemes for Rural Development

• National Rural Employment Guarantee National Rural Employment Guarantee Act launched Feb 2006 in 200 District , Act launched Feb 2006 in 200 District , extended to 593 district covering approx extended to 593 district covering approx 450 lacs families with a current outlay of 450 lacs families with a current outlay of 39100 crores.39100 crores.

• Central Sanitation SchemeCentral Sanitation Scheme• Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar YojanaSampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana• Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar YojanaSwarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana• PURA Yojna PURA Yojna • MP/MLA Funds.MP/MLA Funds.• Schemes by other departmentsSchemes by other departments

Gram SwarajyaGram Swarajya

• The institution of Panchayati Raj is The institution of Panchayati Raj is specifically designed for rural population specifically designed for rural population with the basic objective of democratic with the basic objective of democratic decentralization and devolution of power to decentralization and devolution of power to ensure accelerated socio-economic progress ensure accelerated socio-economic progress with every individual being the architect of with every individual being the architect of his/her own government.his/her own government.

• The real effect will come when system is The real effect will come when system is participative and socio – economic equality participative and socio – economic equality is achieved – A socio–political change for is achieved – A socio–political change for better India. better India.

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