Panchayati Raj

PANCHAYATI RAJ

  • The term democratic decentralization was not easily understood by the people and was given an Indian name, Panchayati Raj. It means a system of government.
  • Horizontally, a network of village panchayat and vertically, it is an organic growth of the panchayat rising up to the national level.

Election to Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs)

  • Elections to the Panchayats are to be conducted regularly under the supervision of the Panchayati Raj Election Commission of the State.
  • The elections of the members of the Panchayats at village, intermediate and district levels have to be compulsorily elected indirectly by and from amongst the elected members.
  • However the election of President of Village Panchayat has to be decided by direct election.

Reservation of seats

  • Reservation for the candidates belonging to the weaker sections, namely the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at all levels in proportion to their population and in proportion to the area has been provided in order to ensure participation of these groups in the decision making process.
  • One third of the total number of seats has been reserved for women (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to SCs and STs.)
  • Not less than one-third of the total number of Chairpersons in Panchayats at each level has been reserved for women. Likewise reservation for the offices of Chairpersons belonging to the SC and ST categories has also been made.

Tenure

  • A term of five years has been provided for every Panchayat unless it is dissolved earlier on specific grounds.

Resources

  • The Panchayats have been authorized to levy, collect and appropriate suitable local taxes.
  • A state can also provide grant-in-aid to Panchayats from its consolidated fund.
  • A State Finance Commission is appointed to review and assess financial position of the Panchayats and recommend to the states the pattern of distribution of funds between the state and PRIs.
  • The Panchayati Raj functions in each state under three tier system with the
    • Village Panchayat at the grass root level,
    • Panchayat Union at intermediate level and
    • District Panchayat at district level.

Last modified: Friday, 1 October 2010, 11:36 AM