TRAINING MODULE ON PANCHAYAT RAJ

BY Janardhan Malakapalli M.Tech(URP),A.I.I.A, Dip. Arch.

Architect & Urban Planner

BACKGROUND.
Panchayat literally means assembly (yat) of five (panch) wise and

respected elders chosen and accepted by the village community.

For sustainable economic and social development to take place in any country, it is necessary that people participate in the political

process.
There are many reasons why people may not participate: from

apathy to a sense of helplessness.

NECESSITY
India is geographically vast & demographically diverse country

where centre of power can be unresponsive to needs of local

communities. The Panchayat Raj is a means for villages to make their own

decisions that affect their development.

The Panchayat Raj scheme is meant to ensure that challenges facing rural India are not solely solved by top-down, bureaucratic

interventions.

INTRODUCTION.
The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 envisages States to

establish a three-tier system of strong, viable and responsive

Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels. The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 envisages the

establishment of municipalities in the urban areas.

States are expected to devolve adequate powers, responsibilities

and finances upon these bodies so as to enable them to prepare plans

and implement schemes for economic development and social justice.

FRAMEWORK & SPIRIT.

The Acts provide a basic framework of decentralization of powers

and authorities to the Panchayat Raj/Municipal bodies at different

levels. However, responsibility for giving it a practical shape rests with the

States.
States are expected to act in consonance with the spirit of the Acts

for establishing a strong and viable system of local self- government.

NEW PROVISIONS.
New provisions relating to the 73rd and 74th amendments have

been incorporated in Part IX of the Constitution in India

1. Panchayats to be constituted in every State at three tiers: the village, intermediate & district level.

2.Establishing a village Assembly or Gram Sabha in each village.

3. Members of Panchayats at all levels will be elected through direct elections.

NEW PROVISIONS.
4. Seats are reserved for marginalized communities called Schedule

Castes and Scheduled Tribes at all levels as per population.

5. Not less than one-third of seats are reserved for women. 6. Panchayats are tacked with (i) preparing plans and implementing

schemes for social justice and economic development; (ii) in regard to

matters listed in the 11th Schedule.. 7. Review of the financial position of the Panchayats will be

undertaken by a State Finance Commission, which shall be

constituted every five years.

ACHEIVEMENTS
Widening the democratic base of Indias polity & bringing about

significant changes in Indias federalism, - amazing development

emergence of women as leaders. Participation at the three levels WOMEN respond to the needs

of the more vulnerable sections of the village community.

Resisting Exclusion, in certain parts of India they have brought to

their offices-immense courage, enthusiasm and creativity.

SCHEDULE - V
The Panchayats in tribal areas of nine states- in what is called-

Schedule V Areas.
This law recognizes the rights of tribal communities over natural resources, respects their traditional institutions and gives vast powers

of self-governance to the tribal communities.

The powers that are vested in the Gram Sabha authorize it to approve all development plans, control all functionaries .

UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS.
The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj forged a unique partnership

with CII for developing "Rural Business Hubs" through Panchayats.

These rural business hubs would be a bridge between the rural entrepreneurs and the corporate houses, thus channelising the latent

resources at the village level

Indian corporate giants, like ITC , HLL, have developed innovative initiatives to tap into rural markets and establish supply chains for

their produce.

MGNREG ACT 2005.

Panchayats are being further strengthened by being made the

principal authorities for planning and implementing the National

Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 aims at

enhancing livelihood security in rural India by providing at least 100

days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year.

CRITIQUE
The bureaucratic methods of the state govts. has slowly started to

influence the functioning of the Panchayati Raj, - negatively affecting

the transparency of the Panchayat system in some instances. In many states the Gram Panchayats are being dominated by the

higher castes, thereby marginalizing the lower castes.

Thus, in some cases, the Panchayat was becoming an institution to

perpetuate the caste inequities that already existed.

THANK YOU