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Ever since India got freedom in 1947, efforts have been made to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system to create, in the rural people a sense of participation in the nation-building programme.
ARTICLE 40 under Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution directs the state “to organise village panchayats as units of self- government”. It was in pursuance of this objective and as a part of the planning process that the Community Development (CD) programme was launched in the country on October 2, 1952.
The aims of the CD programme are to make use of the vast unexploited Resources in the countryside, encourage EMPLOYMENT and use of scientific methods of agriculture, cottage and small-scale industries, inculcate a spirit of self-help among the rural people through developmental work, provide greater amenities to villagers through voluntary contribution of labour, and bring about Social Change through cooperation.
Following the acceptance of the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, set up in 1953, by the National Development Council in 1958, the CD programme was integrally connected to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs), setting the stage for launching of panchayati institutions on a nationwide scale.
The Balwant Rai Committee recommended the establishment of Panchayati Raj on the principle of ‘democratic decentralisation’. The scheme envisaged a three- tier system of- local self-government with panchayats at the village level, panchayat samitis at block level and zila parishad at district level.
However, the system did not prove a complete success and various shortcomings were noticed. As a result, the government set up a committee in 1977 under the chairmanship of Ashoka Mehta to review the working of Panchayati Raj. In its report, submitted in 1978, the committee favoured the replacement of the existing three-tier system with mandal panchayats at the base and zila parishads at the top.
The committee favoured reduction of the dependence of PRIs on the state governments and suggested that they raise their own resources, by the grant of compulsory powers of Taxation to them through an amendment to the Constitution. It suggested the creation of a monitoring forum to safeguard the interests of vulnerable social and economic sections. But the recommendations of the Ashoka Mehta Committee were not accepted and the PRIs continued to work as before.
Concerned at the fact that the Panchayati Raj system was not being taken very seriously by the states, the government put forward the 72nd Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Parliament in 1992. The amendment inserted Part IX containing Articles 243 to 243-0 in the Constitution.
It got constitutional status as the 73rd Amendment Act in 1993 after ratification by more than half the number of states. Almost all the states have enacted the necessary legislation for setting up of strong, viable and responsible panchayats at different levels in their respective states/Union territories.
Under the 73rd Amendment Act, state legislatures may by law confer on Panchayats the powers and authority necessary for them to function as institutions of self-Government. Their responsibilities could cover preparing plans for Economic Development and social Justice, implementing these plans, and control over certain matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule which contains 29 items, such as land improvement, minor Irrigation, Animal Husbandry, fishery, Women and child development, and Education. Thus the Eleventh Schedule envisages a distribution of powers between the state legislatures and the Panchayat. The powers of the local bodies are to be delegated by the State Legislature.
The state legislatures can authorise Panchayats to levy, collect and appropriate suitable local taxes and also provide for making grants-in- aid to the Panchayats from the Consolidated Fund of the State.
Article 243 I says that within a year from the date of the Constitution’s 73rd Amendment coming into force, i.e., from April 25, 1993, and afterwards every five years, the State Government is to appoint a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Panchayats and to make recommendations on the following matters:
- distribution between the state and the panchayats of the net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the state which may be divided between them and the manner in which the allocation is to be made among the various tiers;
- what taxes, tolls and fees may be assigned to the panchayats; and
- grants-in-aid to panchayats. The Commission’s report with a memorandum of action taken on it is to be laid before the state legislature.
The state governments are required to constitute district planning committees (DPCs), as envisaged under Article 243 (ZD) of the Constitutional 74th Amendment Act (which deals with the urban civic bodies) at the district level to facilitate the process of decentralised planning by consolidating the development plans prepared by the Panchayats And Municipalities for the district as a whole covering both rural and urban areas. The DPC will submit draft district development plan to the District Administration. The committee will have members elected by and from the district level panchayat and municipalities of the district.
The 73rd and 74th Amendments mark a new era in the federal democratic set-up of the country by providing constitutional status to the local self-governing institutions at the rural and urban levels. The two amendments are, indeed, landmarks.
As regards the content, state legislatures have been reluctant to transfer real powers and have retained with them, or with their officials, the powers of supervision, control, suspension, notification of functions, approvals of the schemes and the like. Under the amendments, the state will have to grant these powers to the grassroots institutions.
There is a view that even if the Local Government institutions are not made truly self-governing, the DPC will be greatly involved in formulating their plans, which is a major improvement over the existing state of affairs.
However, the amendments suffer from some weaknesses. Although provisions have been made with regard to transfer of subjects to be dealt by the PRIs, the Acts are not clear about the transfer of personnel and funds in respect of the subjects transferred to the panchayats.
As self-government units, panchayats must have their own cadres of employees whom they can recruit and have disciplinary control over. The role of the district collector vis-a-vis the elected bodies must also be determined.
The success of the PRIs will depend on the following five things:
- PRIs and state governments must fully want the system, for often they are their own enemies;
- Resistance from the Bureaucracy must be countered with suitable personnel policies at the state and lower levels;
- Local leaders must look to the new system as an opportunity for tackling POVERTY in the community and not only as a good chance for exercise of power and patronage;
- The system of accounting, audit and accountability must be established on a Sound basis; and
- Panchayati Raj functionaries, especially those belonging to SC/ST and women categories, and civil servants must be trained or exposed “to knowledge, skills and attitudes for making the system work”.
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Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-government in India. It was introduced in the country in 1959 with the objective of decentralizing power and involving people in the development process. Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) are elected bodies at the village, block, and district levels. They are responsible for planning and implementing development schemes in their respective areas.
The idea of Panchayati Raj was first mooted by Mahatma Gandhi in the early 20th century. He believed that Decentralization of power was essential for the development of rural India. After independence, the government of India set up a number of committees to study the feasibility of introducing Panchayati Raj in the country. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, which was appointed in 1957, recommended the establishment of PRIs at the village, block, and district levels. The Ashok Mehta Committee, which was appointed in 1977, made a number of recommendations for strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions.
The structure of Panchayati Raj varies from state to state. However, there are some common features. At the village level, there is a Gram Panchayat, which is elected by the people of the village. The Gram Panchayat is responsible for planning and implementing development schemes in the village. At the block level, there is a Panchayat Samiti, which is elected by the members of the Gram Panchayats in the block. The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for planning and implementing development schemes in the block. At the district level, there is a Zila Parishad, which is elected by the members of the Panchayat Samitis in the district. The Zila Parishad is responsible for planning and implementing development schemes in the district.
The functions of Panchayati Raj institutions are as follows:
- Planning and implementing development schemes
- Mobilizing resources
- Maintaining law and order
- Providing basic amenities
- Promoting education and Health
- Promoting agriculture and rural development
- Promoting women’s Empowerment
- Promoting social justice
The planning process in Panchayati Raj is as follows:
- Preparation of village development plans (VDPs)
- Preparation of block development plans (BDPs)
- Preparation of district development plans (DDPs)
- Integration of VDPs, BDPs, and DDPs into a state development plan
- Implementation of the state development plan
The following are some of the problems and challenges faced by Panchayati Raj institutions:
- Lack of financial resources
- Lack of technical expertise
- Lack of political will
- Lack of coordination between PRIs and other government departments
- Lack of awareness among the people about the role of PRIs
Despite the problems and challenges, Panchayati Raj has the potential to play a vital role in the development of rural India. The government of India has taken a number of steps to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions. These steps include providing financial resources, technical expertise, and training to PRIs. The government has also enacted a number of laws to strengthen Panchayati Raj. These laws include the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, which provide for the establishment of PRIs at the village, block, and district levels. The future of Panchayati Raj looks bright. With the support of the government and the people, PRIs can play a vital role in the development of rural India.
One of the most important aspects of Panchayati Raj is the planning process. The planning process is a bottom-up approach, which means that it starts with the people at the village level. The people identify their needs and priorities, and then they develop plans to address those needs. The plans are then integrated into the plans of the Panchayat Samiti and the Zila Parishad. Finally, the plans are implemented by the PRIs.
The planning process is a very important part of Panchayati Raj because it allows the people to have a say in how their resources are used. It also helps to ensure that development schemes are relevant to the needs of the people. The planning process is not without its challenges, however. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of financial resources. PRIs often do not have enough Money to implement the development schemes that they have planned. Another challenge is the lack of technical expertise. PRIs often do not have the skills and knowledge that they need to develop and implement development schemes.
Despite the challenges, the planning process is a very important part of Panchayati Raj. It is a bottom-up approach that allows the people to have a say in how their resources are used. It also helps to ensure that development schemes are relevant to the needs of the people. With the support of the government and the people, PRIs can overcome the challenges and make the planning process more effective.
What are the functions of the Panchayathi Raj Institutions?
The Panchayathi Raj Institutions (PRIs) are local self-government institutions in India. They are responsible for a wide range of functions, including:
- Planning and development: The PRIs are responsible for planning and implementing development projects in their areas.
- Providing basic Services: The PRIs are responsible for providing basic services such as water, sanitation, education, and health care.
- Revenue collection: The PRIs are responsible for collecting taxes and other revenue.
- Maintenance of Law and Order: The PRIs are responsible for maintaining law and order in their areas.
What are the benefits of the Panchayathi Raj Institutions?
The PRIs have a number of benefits, including:
- They provide a voice for the people: The PRIs provide a platform for the people to participate in decision-making and to hold their elected representatives accountable.
- They promote decentralization: The PRIs help to decentralize power and to bring government closer to the people.
- They improve efficiency: The PRIs can be more efficient in delivering services than the government bureaucracy.
- They promote Transparency and Accountability: The PRIs can help to promote transparency and accountability in government.
What are the challenges faced by the Panchayathi Raj Institutions?
The PRIs face a number of challenges, including:
- Lack of resources: The PRIs often lack the resources they need to carry out their functions effectively.
- Lack of capacity: The PRIs often lack the capacity to plan and implement development projects.
- Political interference: The PRIs are often subject to political interference, which can undermine their effectiveness.
- Social and economic inequality: The PRIs are often unable to address the problems of social and economic inequality.
What are the reforms needed to improve the Panchayathi Raj Institutions?
The following reforms are needed to improve the Panchayathi Raj Institutions:
- Strengthening of the PRIs: The PRIs need to be strengthened financially and administratively.
- Capacity building: The PRIs need to be provided with the capacity to plan and implement development projects.
- Independence from political interference: The PRIs need to be made independent from political interference.
- Addressing social and economic inequality: The PRIs need to be made more effective in addressing the problems of social and economic inequality.
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Which of the following is not a function of the Panchayat Raj Institutions?
(A) To prepare plans for economic development and social justice
(B) To maintain law and order
(C) To provide basic amenities to the people
(D) To ensure people’s participation in the development process -
The Panchayat Raj Institutions are funded by the:
(A) Central Government
(B) State Government
(C) Both Central and State Governments
(D) Local bodies -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions are headed by the:
(A) Sarpanch
(B) Zilla Parishad President
(C) Pradhan
(D) Mukhiya -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions were first introduced in India in the year:
(A) 1950
(B) 1952
(C) 1956
(D) 1960 -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions are based on the principle of:
(A) Decentralization
(B) Deconcentration
(C) Delegation
(D) Devolution -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions have been successful in:
(A) Reducing poverty
(B) Increasing Literacy rates
(C) Providing basic amenities to the people
(D) All of the above -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions have been criticized for:
(A) Lack of funds
(B) Lack of capacity
(C) Lack of accountability
(D) All of the above -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions have been reformed in recent years to make them more effective. These reforms include:
(A) Devolving more powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions
(B) Increasing the representation of women and marginalized groups in the Panchayati Raj Institutions
(C) Providing training and capacity building to the Panchayati Raj Institutions
(D) All of the above -
The Panchayati Raj Institutions are an important part of the Indian Democracy. They play a vital role in the development of the country. The Panchayati Raj Institutions are a powerful tool for empowering the people and ensuring their participation in the development process.
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The Panchayati Raj Institutions are facing a number of challenges. These challenges include:
(A) Lack of funds
(B) Lack of capacity
(C) Lack of accountability
(D) All of the above
Despite the challenges, the Panchayati Raj Institutions have made significant progress in recent years. They have been successful in reducing poverty, increasing literacy rates, and providing basic amenities to the people. The Panchayati Raj Institutions have also been successful in empowering the people and ensuring their participation in the development process.