panchayati raj system

PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM

Dr. Arpita SharmaAssistant Professor,GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

Course: Dimensions of Agricultural Extension

NATIONAL EXTENSION SYSTEM After Independence, the main aim of the

government was to create a welfare state and fulfill the basic needs of the people.

Planning Commission was set up in 1950 to prioritize areas of development and optimize utilization of resources.

1st FYP came into effect from 1951. National Extension System came into

being in 1952.

NATIONAL EXTENSION SYSTEM

It is the systematic, planned and nation wide extension effort.

It was based on the experiences of the early extension efforts (pre Independence period).

In the last seven decades, the National Extension System has passed through several phases depending upon the developmental challenges and prevailing conditions.

National Extension System

Community Development

Technological Development

Development with Social

Justice



Projects(1952)

National Extension Service(1953)


Blocks(1954)

Panchayati Raj

(1957)

National Extension System


Community Development Projects

National Extension Service


Blocks

Panchayati Raj

Technological Development

Development with Social Justice

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BLOCKS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCKS Launched in 1954. To strengthen and consolidate the gains made

under CDP and NES. People participation was appreciated. Aim: to facilitate their further development by

giving additional monetary and human resources. Unique feature: Creation of Block Administrative

team (BAT) (Basic unit of development). BAT comprised of block development officers,

extension officers, village level workers. Heads of BAT- BDO. The job of BDO- to coordinate the implementation of

development activities in the block and educating the village leaders and staff members.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CDP Govt personnel in India have not only

assumed major responsibility for determining what the needs of villagers were.

Village leaders had difficulty in mobilizing their people to undertake projects.

Absence of understanding the basic purpose of generating local group dynamic.

Social Education Organizers: No clear cut concept of their roles.

Little or no people participation. Lack of democratic leadership.

Balvantray Mehta Committee 1957. Panchayati raj emerged as a system for

democratic Decentralization. Rajasthan was first state to adopt the

three tier structure of Panchayati raj.

PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM

Meaning of democratic decentralization, three tiers of Panchayati raj System, Function and Organizational set up

DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION

The world “democracy” is derived from the greet roots – ‘Kratos‘ meaning ‘Authority’ and ‘demos’ meaning ‘the people.

It is governance of the people, by the people, for the people.

Decentralization’ means distribution of functions and power from a central authority to regional and local authority.

DD means : Govt which has derived its authority from the people, redistributes it to some extent to the people, for decision and action at the local level. This is known as Panchayati raj.

REVIVAL OF PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM (1977)

Political will of the Govt in sharing authority and responsibility with the Panchayats.

Enactment of laws relating to PRIs. Holding Panchayat elections at regular

intervals. Involvement of the people at the

grassroot level through the Panchayat in planning and implementation.

Holding regular training programme. Provision of adequate funds and

facilities.

THE CONSTITUION 73RD AMENDMENT ACT 1992

Act was applicable in all states and Union Territories.

Salient feature: Panchayat shall be constituted in every

state at the village, intermediate and state level.

Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a state having a population not exceeding 20lakh.

All the seats in a Panchayats shall be filled by direct election.

MEHTA (1978) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PANCHAYATI RAJ IN INDIA Phase of ascendency (1959-64) Phase of stagnation (1965-69). Phase of decline (1969-77)

Last two phases mainly due to: Reducing the allocation of fund. Lack of adjustment of the bureaucratic

administration with PRIs. Lack of political will. Lack of conceptual clarity. Postponement of elections and supersession.

The study team recommended a basic pattern of democratic decentralization with the

Gram panchayat (Village Council) at the village level,

the Panchayat Samiti at the block level and the Zilla Parishad (district council) at the

district level. The Gram panchayat is at the bottom of the

Panchayat Raj System and the Zilla Parishad is at the apex.

The Panchayat Samiti constitutes the middle tier of this three-tier new set up of rural administration.

GRAM PANCHAYAT

It is basic, first formal democratic institution at the village level.

The chairperson of this unit is called as Sarpanch. It is primary unit of local self-government. Gram panchayat is a cabinet of the village elders, directly

elected by the adult citizens of the village. There are 8 to 10 ward punches, two or three coopted members, who constitute the body of Gram Panchayat; they are consists of 8 to 10 villages.

The members of the Gram Panchayats have tenure of five years and are directly elected from wards while the Sarpanch is elected by the members.

There is provision for reservation of seats for women and for scheduled casts and scheduled tribes.

There is Gram Sabha for each panchayat and the Sarpanch is required to conduct Gram Sabha meetings at least once in six months.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SARPANCH To convene and preside over the meetings of the

Gram Panchayat. To conduct and regulate and be responsible for the

proper maintenance of the records of the proceedings of the meetings.

To be responsible for the proper working of the Gram panchayat as required by or under the Act.

To have authority to enter into correspondence on behalf of Gram panchayat.

To order preparation of all statements and reports. To bring to the notice of the Sarpanch the

irregularities if any, noticed during such inspection.

Functions of Gram Panchayat:

There are number of functions perform by Gram Panchayats. These functions are divided into two categories, namely, the obligatory functions and the options functions.

FOLLOWING ARE THE OBLIGATORY OR THE COMPULSORY FUNCTIONS:

Construction, repairs, maintenance, alteration and extension of village roads, provisions of lights on the roads and other places of public resort and removal of encroachments and obstructions on the roads and other public places.

Supply of drinking water to the villages. Adoption of preventive measures against epidemics and other

dangerous diseases, prevention of obnoxious and dangerous trade, registration of births and deaths and the preparation of the necessary records for the purpose.

Preparation of census records of men and animals, maintenance of relevant records and submission of periodic records and returns.

Spread of primary education and its management. Social conservation. Control of Markets, ferries, fairs, Ghats and other public places. Adoption and encouragement of improved methods of cultivation.

OPTIONAL FUNCTIONS:

Development and maintenance of village forests. Development of the livestock. Construction, management and control of slaughter houses. Reclamation of cultivable wastes and follows land. Organization and management of multi-purpose co-operative societies. Famine relief measures. Establishment and maintenance of village libraries. Marketing of agricultural produce Organization of the Fire services and protection of life and property in

case of fire. Maternity and child welfare and establishment of centers of the purpose. Organization, management and promotion of cottage industries. Organization and maintenance of industrial and agricultural exhibitions. Construction and maintenance of Dharmasalas and Rest houses. Provision of adult education, establishment of primary schools with the

prior approval of the panchayat samiti. Prevention of gambling and implementation of prohibition. To keep the records about the unemployed persons.

PANCHAYAT SAMITI

This is the next tier of administration at the Block level.

Local M.L.A. and M.L.C. One person nominated by District Collector.

Reservation:1. women.2. One from scheduled castes.3. One form scheduled tribes.

The president and vice-president of the samiti are elected form among the village panchayat presidents.

Block Development Officer appointed by the Government is the chief executive of the samiti and function as the leader of the team of block level officials.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF PANCHAYAT SAMITI The President and members of the Panchayat Samiti have to

endeavour to instill among the people within their jurisdiction a spirit of self-help and initiative and harness their enthusiasm for raising the standard of living.

They have to enlist the whole-hearted support of the people for the implementation of the Development Programmes, not only of those which relate to the community for which Government assistance is forthcoming but much more so of those which relate to individuals and which as mainly based on self-help.

In particular all the activities of Community Development Programme are taken over by Panchayat Samiti. The activities concerning the rural welfare and development in the field of agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Health and Sanitation, Elementary Education, cottage industries, social welfare etc. which were being carried on by the normal Development Departments are now entrusted to the Panchayat Samiti.

7. The powers of the various authorities to accord administrative and financial sanction in respect of the works and schemes of Panchayat Samiti are embodied in the rules issued by Government.

9. The loan funds available with some of normal development departments such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandary, and Industries etc. are also made over to Panchayat Samiti to be similarly spent and recovered.

ZILLA PARISHAD AND ITS FUNCTION

This is the third tier of Panchayat Raj operating at the district level. It consists of:

M.L.A.s of the District M.P.s of the DistrictTwo women representatives.

One representative of Scheduled Casts. One representative of scheduled Tribes.

Two persons interested in rural development.

The members of the Parishad elect a chairman and a vice-chairman.

The District heads of development departments take part in the proceedings of the parishad and its standing committees.

There will be a secretary appointed by the Government, who attends all meetings of the Parishad and its standing committees.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE ZILLA PARISHAD: Zilla Parishad should function as advisory body over the Panchayat

Samiti with powers to a) approve their budgets b) co-ordinate their plans and c) distribute funds given by the Government among the blocks.

It has to prepare plans for all items of developmental activities in the district including Municipal areas.

It has to secure execution of plans etc. which are common to two or more blocks.

Secondary education is the responsibility of Zilla Parishad. The parishad should perform such of the powers and functions of the

District Board as are transferred to it by the Government. It should advise the Government in all matters relating to rural

development in the district. It should discuss and review at it’s ordinary meetings the progress

made or the results achieved under-various items. Similarly the District Officer of every Development Department furnishes to the Parishad a brief note on the achievements in the schemes of his department. Such notes will be periodically reviewed by the Parishad.