panchayat rajfin
TRANSCRIPT
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 India’s polity & bringing about
significant changes in India’s 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.
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