- • first tier at village level is commonly known as Gram Panchayat (village • first tier at village level is commonly known as Gram Panchayat (village assembl the second tier at block-level as Panchayat Samiti and the third tier y), at district-level as Zila Parishad.
- • to the provisions of the Panchayats Act 1996 the election to the village • to the provisions of the Panchayats Act 1996 the election to the village Panchyat is held at an interval of 5 years where there is proportionate seat reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and not less than one-third seats reserved for women.
- • the Constitution Amendment Act 1992 the Panchayat (also called Gram • the Constitution Amendment Act 1992 the Panchayat (also called Gram Sabha) has been authorized to look after the preparation and implementation of plans for economic development and social justice on an illustrative list of 29 subjects. The respective state has been given discretionary powers to prescribe powers and functions to the Gram Sabha to act as an institution of self-government.
- • has also been advised to constitute a District Planning Committee to consolidate the • has also been advised to constitute a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and Municipalities and prepare an integrated development plan for the district as a whole. It has also been directed to constitute a State Finance Commission (SFC) to review every five years, the financial position of Panchayats and to make recommendations about the principle governing the distribution of revenues between the state and the Panchayats, and determination of the grants-in-aid to the Panchayats from the Consolidated Funds of the State.
- • implementation of the plan at the Panchayat-level is the responsibility of the • implementation of the plan at the Panchayat-level is the responsibility of the Village Development Officer (VDO) and the secretary and is supervised by the Gram Sabha which is headed by the Gram Pradhan. Under the existing provisions, funds for the Gram Sabha (Village Panchayat) are directly being allocated from the centre to execute rural development programmes like IRDP, JRY etc.
- • Panchayat has also been entrusted with the responsibility for the promotion of • Panchayat has also been entrusted with the responsibility for the promotion of agriculture, rural industries, provision of medical relief, maternity, women and child welfare, maintaining common grazing grounds, village roads, tanks, wells, sanitation and execution of other socio-economic programmes.
- • some places, they are also authorized to supervise primary education and collect • some places, they are also authorized to supervise primary education and collect land revenue. Presently, Gram Panchayats are involved in the identification of beneficiaries in antipoverty programmes.
- • new status accorded to the Panchayats by the Constitution has raised high hopes • new status accorded to the Panchayats by the Constitution has raised high hopes and expectations among the elected representatives and the rural folk at large. But owing to the political complexions of the governments in the Indian states, the