Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

VILLAGE PANCHAYAT (GRAM SABHA)

• A Gram Sabha consists of all adult members registered as voters in the area of Panchayat.
• It provides effective peoples’ participation in various programmes at local level.
• It is considered as the only means of direct democracy where all important decisions have to be arrived at and it may serve the purpose of training ground for all the people especially the younger generation.
• The Gram Sabha has to meet atleast thrice in a year.
• The quorum for its meeting shall be one-third of the total number of members of the Gram Sabha.
• The meetings shall be presided over by the President of the Panchayat and in his absence, by the Vice President and in the absence of both, a member chosen by the members present at the meeting.

Functions 

• Constitution, repair and maintenance of ward.
• Lighting of public wards and built up areas.
• Construction of drains and disposal of village water including sewage.
• Cleaning of streets, removal of rubbish heaps and improvement of sanitary condition of the village.
• Provisions for public latrines and their cleanliness.
• Opening and maintaining burial grounds.
• Sinking and repairing of wells, repair and maintenance of ponds, tanks, construction and maintenance of water works.

Powers

• Planting and preservation of trees.
• Lighting of public roads and places other than built up area.
• Opening and maintenance of public markets other than those classified as public markets.
• Control of fairs and festivals.
• Opening and maintenance of cart stands and halting places, public cattle sheds.
• Opening and maintenance of public slaughter house.
• Opening and maintenance of reading home.
• Establishment and maintenance of Community TV sets, playgrounds, parks and sports clubs.
• Opening and maintenance of literacy centers for imparting social education.
• Construction of works of public utility, provision of facilities for safety, health, comfort, conveyance, culture or recreation of the inhabitants of the village.

Taxation and finance

• Shares of local cess, house tax, vehicle tax, stamp duty surcharge, house tax matching grant, tolls, fee for markets, income from endowment, share of entertainment tax, ferries, porambokes, fines and penalties.

Economic development and social justice

• Each village panchayat will prepare a plan for economic development and social justice including implementation of programmes and schemes of the government.