Grassroots Democracy – Part 2
This chapter introduces students to the concept of local government in rural areas, focusing on the Panchayati Raj system. It explains the three tiers of this system: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad, detailing their structure, functions, and the role of key individuals like the Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary. The chapter highlights the importance of grassroots democracy, active citizen participation, and initiatives like Child-Friendly Panchayats, emphasizing how these institutions address local issues, promote development, and ensure government schemes reach the village level.
Panchayati Raj System: Introduction aur Three Tiers
India mein, local level par governance ko manage karne ke liye Panchayati Raj System banaya gaya hai. Yeh system logon ko decision-making process mein directly participate karne ka mauka deta hai.
Panchayati Raj Kya Hai?
- Meaning: Yeh ek system of self-government hai jo rural areas mein kaam karta hai.
- Objective: Local issues ko address karna, development ko promote karna, aur government schemes ka benefit grassroots level tak pahunchana.
- Importance: Democracy ko grassroots level tak strengthen karta hai.
Three-Tier System
Panchayati Raj System three levels par kaam karta hai, jise 'three-tier system' kehte hain:
- Village Level: Gram Panchayat
- Sabse basic level, directly villagers se connected.
- Gram Sabha dwara elected members hote hain.
- Block Level: Panchayat Samiti / Block Panchayat / Mandal Parishad
- Several Gram Panchayats ko cover karta hai.
- Gram Panchayat aur Zila Parishad ke beech link ka kaam karta hai.
- District Level: Zila Parishad / District Panchayat
- District ke sabhi rural areas ko cover karta hai.
- Highest level of Panchayati Raj system.
Functions of Panchayati Raj Institutions (General)
- Agriculture: Krishi vikas aur irrigation facilities.
- Housing: Rural housing schemes.
- Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, culverts ka maintenance.
- Water Resources: Water supply, ponds, wells ka management.
- Education: Primary education, schools ka maintenance.
- Health Care: Primary health centers, sanitation.
- Social Welfare: Disadvantaged sections ke liye schemes.
- Cultural Activities: Local festivals aur events ko promote karna.
Historical Context (Ancient Roots)
- Kautilya's Arthashastra: 2,300 saal pehle bhi village-level administration ka concept tha.
- Sangrahana: Har 10 villages ke liye sub-district headquarters.
- Karvatika: Har 100 villages ke liye district headquarters.
- Dronamukha: Har 400 villages ke liye.
- Sthaniya: Har 800 villages ke liye provincial headquarters.
- Yeh show karta hai ki decentralized governance ka idea India mein bahut purana hai.
M.K. Gandhi ne kaha tha, "The real India lives in its villages." Is quote se grassroots democracy ki importance samajh mein aati hai.
Panchayat: Ek village council jo local level par governance provide karta hai.
Gram Panchayat: Structure, Functions, aur Key Roles
Gram Panchayat Panchayati Raj system ka sabse basic aur crucial level hai. Yeh directly logon se interact karta hai.
Gram Sabha
- Definition: Gram Sabha ek meeting hoti hai jismein village ke sabhi adult citizens (jinki age 18 ya usse zyada hai aur jo voters list mein registered hain) participate karte hain.
- Role: Gram Panchayat ke members ko elect karti hai aur unke kaam ko supervise karti hai. Decision-making mein direct participation ka forum hai.
- Functions:
- Gram Panchayat ke budget ko approve karna.
- Previous year ke accounts ko review karna.
- New development schemes par discuss karna.
- Beneficiaries ko identify karna.
- Corruption ko check karna.
Gram Panchayat
- Structure:
- Members (Panchs): Gram Sabha dwara directly elected hote hain.
- Head (Sarpanch / Pradhan): Panchs dwara ya directly Gram Sabha dwara elected hota hai. Gram Panchayat ka president hota hai.
- Term: Generally 5 saal ka hota hai.
- Functions:
- Development Plans: Village ke liye development plans banana aur implement karna.
- Public Facilities: Water supply, sanitation, street lights, roads ka maintenance.
- Revenue Collection: Local taxes (e.g., property tax, market fees) collect karna.
- Government Schemes: Central aur State government ki development schemes ko implement karna (e.g., MGNREGA).
- Dispute Resolution: Minor disputes ko resolve karna.
- Record Keeping: Births, deaths, marriages ke records maintain karna.
Key Support Roles
- Panchayat Secretary:
- Government dwara appointed hota hai.
- Administrative functions perform karta hai: meetings call karna, records maintain karna, Gram Sabha aur Gram Panchayat ke decisions ko implement karna.
- Gram Sabha aur Gram Panchayat dono ka secretary hota hai.
- Patwari:
- Government official jo land records maintain karta hai.
- Farmers ke land holdings, crop patterns, aur property boundaries ka record rakhta hai.
- Revenue collection mein help karta hai.
Exemplary Sarpanchs (Case Studies)
- Dnyaneshwar Kamble (Tarangfal, Maharashtra): Transgender Sarpanch. Motto: lok seva, gram seva. Community service aur development mein contribution.
- Vandana Bahadur Maida (Khankhandvi, Madhya Pradesh): First female Sarpanch. Patriarchal norms ko challenge kiya. Women ko Sabha meetings mein participate karne ke liye encourage kiya. Education aur sanitation jaise issues par focus kiya.
- Popatrao Baguji Pawar (Hiware Bazar, Maharashtra): Padma Shri awardee. Drought-prone village ko prosperous banaya. Rainwater harvesting, watershed conservation, aur tree planting jaise initiatives se groundwater recharge kiya.
Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative
- Objective: Children ki wellbeing aur participation ko ensure karna.
- Bal Sabhas & Bal Panchayats: Children ko apne ideas aur opinions express karne ka platform provide karte hain.
- Examples:
- Maharashtra: Child labour aur child marriage ko eliminate karne mein help ki. Children ko school wapas laya.
- Sikkim (Sangkhu Radhu Khandu Gram Panchayat): Schools ke liye compound walls banaye, hygienic mid-day meals ke liye kitchens banaye. Child-friendly Gram Panchayat declare kiya gaya.
- Rajasthan (Children's Parliament, Barefoot College): Underprivileged children ko education aur democratic participation ke through empower kiya. Children ne governance processes mein participate kiya, leadership skills develop kiye, aur community issues (education, sanitation) ko address kiya.
Gram Sabha aur Gram Panchayat ke beech ka difference samajhna bahut important hai. Gram Sabha mein sabhi adult voters hote hain, jabki Gram Panchayat elected representatives ki body hoti hai.
Women ke liye 1/3rd seats Panchayati Raj institutions mein reserved hain, jo unki participation ko promote karta hai.
Panchayat Samiti aur Zila Parishad: Structure aur Functions
Gram Panchayat ke upar ke levels par Panchayat Samiti aur Zila Parishad kaam karte hain, jo larger geographical areas ko cover karte hain.
Panchayat Samiti (Block Level)
- Other Names: Block Panchayat, Mandal Parishad.
- Structure:
- Members: Local logon dwara elected members hote hain.
- Ex-officio Members: Area ke Sarpanchs, local MLAs (State Legislative Assembly Members), aur MPs (Members of Parliament) bhi iske members ho sakte hain.
- Composition: State to State vary karta hai.
- Functions:
- Coordination: Gram Panchayats ke beech coordination establish karna.
- Development Plans: Sabhi Gram Panchayats se development plans collect karna aur unhe consolidate karke District ya State level par present karna.
- Fund Allotment: Development projects aur government schemes (e.g., Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) ke liye funds allot karne mein help karna.
- Supervision: Gram Panchayats ke functions ko supervise aur guide karna.
- Implementation: Block level par government schemes ko implement karna.
Zila Parishad (District Level)
- Other Names: District Panchayat.
- Structure:
- Members: District ke logon dwara elected members hote hain.
- Ex-officio Members: District ke Panchayat Samitis ke chairpersons, MLAs, aur MPs bhi iske members hote hain.
- Chairperson: Elected members mein se ek Chairperson elect kiya jata hai.
- Functions:
- District Development Plans: Poore district ke liye development plans banana.
- Coordination: Sabhi Panchayat Samitis ke kaam ko coordinate karna.
- Fund Distribution: State government se funds receive karna aur unhe Panchayat Samitis aur Gram Panchayats mein distribute karna.
- Supervision: Panchayat Samitis ke functions ko supervise karna.
- Advisory Role: State government ko development matters par advice dena.
- Resource Mobilization: Local resources se revenue generate karna.
Importance of Three-Tier System
- Decentralization: Power ko grassroots level tak distribute karta hai.
- Local Participation: Logon ko apne area ke development mein direct participate karne ka mauka deta hai.
- Efficient Governance: Local issues ko better tareeke se address kar pata hai.
- Accountability: Local representatives directly logon ke प्रति accountable hote hain.
- Inclusivity: Disadvantaged sections aur women ke liye special provisions (e.g., seat reservation) hain, jo unki participation ensure karte hain.
State Authority over PRIs
- Panchayati Raj institutions ke structure aur functions States mein thode alag ho sakte hain, kyuki States ko in institutions par authority hoti hai.
- Lekin, inka basic objective same rehta hai: villagers ko apne gaon ke management aur development mein active part lene ke liye empower karna.
Panchayat Samiti aur Zila Parishad ke functions ko compare aur contrast karna seekho. Yeh aksar exam mein pucha jata hai.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana jaisi schemes rural areas mein all-weather roads banane par focus karti hain, jismein Panchayati Raj institutions ka important role hota hai.
