Panchayats

▸ Panchayats constitute functional institutions of grassroot governance in villages. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, January 1957, recommended that decision-making should be decentralised and elected local bodies should be established. However, the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) could not develop as it was expected to do so.
▸ In 1977, the government appointed the Ashok Mehta Committee to examine the measures to strengthen PRIs.
▸ The LM Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended Constitutional Status for local bodies.

73rd Amendment Act

▸ The Constitution 73rd Amendment Act,1992 inserted a new part IX into the Constitution. The salient features of Part IX of the Constitution are as follows
▸ The term of the Panchayats is five years unless dissolved earlier. Seats shall be compulsorily reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Seats to be reserved for backward classes is left at the discretion of the State Government.
▸ There is a provision of State Finance Commission to review the financial position of Panchayats and recommend grant-in-aids.
▸ One-third of the seats are reserved for women. A State Election Commission headed by the State Election Commissioner shall conduct elections for the Panchayats.
▸ The Constitution has provided for three-tier system of Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.

Three Tier System

▸ The three-tier system of Panchayat Raj was first adopted by Rajasthan (Nagaur district on 2nd October, 1959) followed by Andhra Pradesh.

(a) Village Panchayat

▸ It consists of elected representatives of the people, its membership varies from 5-31. There is reservation for SC, ST and Women.
▸ Chairman, i.e. Sarpanch is elected in a manner as the State Legislature may provide directly or indirectly.
▸ Villages Panchayat has to answer Gram Sabha for all its actions.
▸ Gram Sabha comprises the residing adults of the Panchayat and it supervises the working of Panchayat.

(b) Block and Panchayat Samiti

▸ The Block consists 20-60 villages. It is governed by the elected members of Village Panchayat, which is called Panchayat Samiti.
▸ Pradhan is the head or Chairman of Panchayat Samiti.
▸ States with population less than 20 lakh need not constitute a Block Panchayat. Chairperson is elected form amongst the members.

(c) Zila Parishad

▸ Members of the Zila Parishad are elected from the district by direct election on the basis of adult franchise for a term of 5 years.
▸ Chairman of Zila Parishad is elected from amongst the members.