Panchayati Raj: A Guide for Class 6

What is the Panchayati Raj System?

Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-government in India, primarily for rural areas. The word 'Panchayat' literally means 'assembly (ayat) of five (panch),' and 'Raj' means 'rule'. So, it means the rule of the village council. Imagine India is a very large family. The Prime Minister and central government are like the grandparents who make big decisions for the whole family. The state governments are like parents who manage their own part of the house. The Panchayati Raj is like you and your cousins deciding what games to play in your own room! This system ensures that people in villages have a say in matters that directly affect their daily lives, like water, roads, electricity, and schools. It was made a formal part of our country's structure through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1992, making democracy reach every single village.

Key People and Groups in Panchayati Raj

Gram Sabha

This is a meeting of all adults (18 years and older) who live in the area of a Panchayat. It is the most important body where all plans for the village are discussed and approved.

Gram Panchayat

This is the small, elected council for a village or a group of villages. It is responsible for carrying out the development work and is answerable to the Gram Sabha.

Sarpanch

The head (President) of the Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch is elected by the villagers and leads the Panchayat meetings.

Panch

An elected member of the Gram Panchayat. Each Panch represents a specific part of the village, called a 'ward'.

Panchayat Secretary

A government-appointed official who is responsible for keeping records of the meetings and accounts. The Secretary is not elected but is a link between the Panchayat and the government.

The Three Levels of Panchayati Raj

1. Level 1: Gram Panchayat (Village Level) — This is the base of the pyramid. Every village, or sometimes a group of small villages, has a Gram Panchayat. It deals with the day-to-day problems and needs of the villagers directly. It is elected for a term of five years.
2. Level 2: Panchayat Samiti (Block Level) — This is the middle level, also known as the Janpad Panchayat or Block Panchayat. Several Gram Panchayats together form a Panchayat Samiti. It acts as a link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration, overseeing the work of the villages in its block.
3. Level 3: Zila Parishad (District Level) — This is the highest level of the Panchayati Raj system. The Zila Parishad (or District Council) works at the district level. It coordinates the activities of all the Panchayat Samitis within the district and makes development plans for the entire district.

What Does a Gram Panchayat Do? (Examples of Work)

• Providing Clean Water: A Gram Panchayat is responsible for the construction and maintenance of water sources like hand-pumps, wells, and water tanks. If a hand-pump breaks down, villagers can ask the Panchayat to get it repaired.
• Building and Maintaining Village Infrastructure: They construct and repair village roads, drains, and street lights. For example, the Panchayat can use its funds to lay a brick path to the village school to make it easier for children to walk, especially during the rainy season.
• Running Schools and Health Centres: The Panchayat looks after the maintenance of primary school buildings and ensures basic health facilities are available in the village.
• Implementing Government Schemes: The government launches many schemes for rural development. The Gram Panchayat helps in implementing these schemes, such as the MGNREGA, which provides employment to people in the village.
• Levying and Collecting Local Taxes: To get money for all these activities, the Panchayat collects small taxes on houses, markets, and fairs organised in the village. It also receives funds from the state government.

Remember the Role of the Gram Sabha!

A very common mistake students make is confusing the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat. Here's an easy way to remember the difference:

• Gram Sabha: Think of this as all the people or voters of the village. It is a meeting, not an elected body. The Gram Sabha is the 'boss' that reviews the work of the Panchayat.
• Gram Panchayat: This is the small, elected team (the Sarpanch and Panchs) that does the actual work for 5 years.

So, the Gram Panchayat is answerable to the Gram Sabha. The people have the power!

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What is the main difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
  A: Step 1: Define Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all the adult citizens (18 years and above) who live in the area covered by a Panchayat. It is a forum where people can discuss and approve the work of the Panchayat.
  Step 2: Define Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat is a council elected by the members of the Gram Sabha for a period of five years. It is the body that implements development projects.
  Step 3: State the key difference. The main difference is that the Gram Sabha includes all adult voters and acts as a watchdog, while the Gram Panchayat is a smaller, elected body that performs the executive functions.
  Final answer: The Gram Sabha is the general assembly of all voters, whereas the Gram Panchayat is the small, elected executive body.

• Q: List the three levels of the Panchayati Raj system.
  A: Step 1: Identify the lowest level. The first and lowest level is the Gram Panchayat, which functions at the village level.
  Step 2: Identify the middle level. The second or middle level is the Panchayat Samiti (or Block Panchayat), which functions at the block level and consists of many Gram Panchayats.
  Step 3: Identify the highest level. The third and highest level is the Zila Parishad, which functions at the district level and coordinates the work of all Panchayat Samitis in that district.
  Final answer: The three levels of the Panchayati Raj system are: 1. Gram Panchayat (at the village level), 2. Panchayat Samiti (at the block level), and 3. Zila Parishad (at the district level).

• Q: Mention any two important functions of the Gram Panchayat.
  A: Step 1: Recall the responsibilities of the Panchayat. Think about the basic needs of a village.
  Step 2: List the first function. One important function is the construction and maintenance of public facilities like roads, drains, street lighting, and most importantly, water sources like wells, hand-pumps, and tanks.
  Step 3: List the second function. Another important function is implementing government development and welfare schemes at the village level, which helps create jobs and improve living standards.
  Final answer: Two important functions of the Gram Panchayat are: 1) Providing and maintaining basic civic amenities like clean drinking water and roads. 2) Implementing government schemes for the welfare of the villagers.

• Q: How does a Gram Panchayat get the money to do its work?
  A: Step 1: Identify internal sources of funds. A Panchayat can raise its own money. One way is by levying and collecting local taxes on houses, marketplaces, and commercial shops.
  Step 2: Identify external sources of funds. Panchayats are not self-sufficient. They receive a significant amount of money as grants-in-aid from the State Government through the recommendations of the State Finance Commission.
  Step 3: Mention other sources. They can also receive donations from the community for specific projects.
  Final answer: A Gram Panchayat gets money from three main sources: 1) collection of local taxes, 2) grants received from the state government, and 3) donations for community works.

Frequently Asked Questions