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After the initiation of the Community Development and National Extension service in India and its working for sometime, it was realized that the people's participation was not coming forth to the desired extent. So that local leadership might develop and enable the local people to take up the planning and implementation of development programme themselves. In order to achieve this objective, it was decided in 1958 to introduce the Panchayati Raj, as recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee.
This system envisages a three-tier system at the district, block and village levels, as indicated below:
District level - Zilla Parishad
Block Level - Panchayat Samiti
Village Level - Village Panchayat
According to this system a Panchayat will be established in each village. These village Panchayats would be responsible for the planning and implementation of the Community Development and Extension Programmes at the village level.
At the block level the Panchayat Samities consisting of all the presidents of the village Panchayats in the block and some co-opted members are constituted. The Panchayat Samiti is in complete charge of the planning and implementation of the Community Development Programmes. The B.D.O. is the chief executive officer of the Samiti and all the extension officers are subordinate to him. The financial resources of the Samiti consist of money derived from land revenue, taxes, funds allotted for Community development, funds received from All-India Boards, etc., contributions from Panchayats and the people.
The third tier of the Panchayati Raj is the Zila Parishad consisting of all the presidents of the Panchayat Samitis in the district, the people's representatives such as the Members of Legislative Assemblies, Members of Parliament, and the District Collector and some co-opted members. The Zila Parishad consolidates plans prepared in respect of all the blocks in the district and co-ordinates activities of the Samities.
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Participants