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{{Short description|Village self-government system in rural India}} | {{Short description|Village self-government system in rural India}} | ||
{{See also|Local | {{See also|Local government in India}} | ||
{{ | {{other uses|Panchayat (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}} | {{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}} | ||
{{Politics of India}} | {{Politics of India}} | ||
[[File:Muhamma grama panchayath.jpg|thumbnail|[[Muhamma]] Panchayat office, [[Kerala]]]] | [[File:Muhamma grama panchayath.jpg|thumbnail|[[Muhamma]] Panchayat office, [[Kerala]]]] | ||
'''Panchayati Raj''' ( | '''Panchayati Raj''' (council of five officials) is the [[political system|system]] of [[local government in India|local self-government]] of [[Village#South Asia|villages]] in rural [[India]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Panchayati Raj Institutions in India|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india/amendments/constitution-india-seventy-third-amendment-act-1992|website=India.gov.in}}</ref> as opposed to urban and suburban [[municipal governance in India|municipalities]]. | ||
It consists of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through which the self-government of villages is realized.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/Statistical+handbook_MoPR+02082019.pdf/4988ca1b-4971-1f3b-54e7-980228eb47f9?t=1564729098415 |url-status=live |title=Basic Statistics of Panchayati Raj Institutions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019 |publisher=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |access-date=2020-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424232317/https://www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/Statistical+handbook_MoPR+02082019.pdf/4988ca1b-4971-1f3b-54e7-980228eb47f9?t=1564729098415 |archive-date=2020-04-24}}</ref> They are tasked with "economic development, strengthening social justice and implementation of Central and State Government Schemes including those 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule."<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | It consists of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through which the self-government of villages is realized.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/Statistical+handbook_MoPR+02082019.pdf/4988ca1b-4971-1f3b-54e7-980228eb47f9?t=1564729098415 |url-status=live |title=Basic Statistics of Panchayati Raj Institutions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019 |publisher=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |access-date=2020-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424232317/https://www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/Statistical+handbook_MoPR+02082019.pdf/4988ca1b-4971-1f3b-54e7-980228eb47f9?t=1564729098415 |archive-date=2020-04-24}}</ref> They are tasked with "economic development, strengthening social justice and implementation of Central and State Government Schemes including those 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule."<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | ||
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*the [[Gram Panchayat]]s at village level | *the [[Gram Panchayat]]s at village level | ||
*the Mandal Parishad or Block ''Samiti'' or [[Panchayat samiti|Panchayat Samiti]] at block level and | *the Mandal Parishad or Block ''Samiti'' or [[Panchayat samiti|Panchayat Samiti]] at block level and | ||
*the [[District Panchayat|Zila Parishad]] at district level.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | *the [[District Panchayat|Zila Parishad]] / District Panchayat at district level.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | ||
In states or Union Territories with less than two million inhabitants there are only two levels of PRIs. The [[Gram Sabha]] consists of all registered voters living in the area of a Gram Panchayat and is the organization through which village inhabitants participate directly in local government. Elections for the members of the Panchayats at all levels take place every five years. The Panchayats must include members of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs)]] in the same proportion as in the general population. One third of all seats and chairperson posts must be reserved for women, in some states half of all seats and chairperson posts.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | In states or Union Territories with less than two million inhabitants there are only two levels of PRIs. The [[Gram Sabha]] consists of all registered voters living in the area of a Gram Panchayat and is the organization through which village inhabitants participate directly in local government. Elections for the members of the Panchayats at all levels take place every five years. The Panchayats must include members of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs)]] in the same proportion as in the general population. One third of all seats and chairperson posts must be reserved for women, in some states half of all seats and chairperson posts.<ref name="Ministry of Panchayati Raj 2019" /> | ||
[[Jawaharlal Nehru]] inaugurated Panchayati at [[Nagaur]] on October 2, 1959. The day was selected on the occasion of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s birthday. Gandhi wanted Gram Swaraj through Panchayati Raj.<ref name="Sharma">{{cite book | last=Sharma | first=Shakuntla | title=Grass Root Politics and Panchayati Raj | publisher=Deep & Deep Publications | year=1994 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOotj52KG9QC | page=131}}</ref><ref name="Singh">{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Surat | title=Decentralised Governance in India: Myth and Reality | publisher=Deep & Deep Publications | year=2004 | isbn=978-81-7629-577-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-4taHca3HQC | page=74}}</ref> The system was modified in 1992 with the 73rd constitutional amendment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://static.pmg.org.za/docs/2005/051109structure.htm |title= Structure of Rural Local Government of India |access-date=3 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Singh 2003"/><ref name="dandc.eu">{{cite web | url=http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/after-25-years-elected-village-councils-india-democracy-still-needs-be-deepened | title=Living in the villages | D+C - Development + Cooperation }}</ref> | |||
In India, the Panchayati Raj now functions as a [[system]] of [[governance]] in which gram panchayats are the basic units of [[Local government|local administration]]. Currently, the Panchayati Raj system exists in all states except Nagaland, [[Meghalaya]], and [[Mizoram]], and in all Union Territories except Delhi. | In India, the Panchayati Raj now functions as a [[system]] of [[governance]] in which gram panchayats are the basic units of [[Local government|local administration]]. Currently, the Panchayati Raj system exists in all states except Nagaland, [[Meghalaya]], and [[Mizoram]], and in all Union Territories except Delhi. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Panchayati raj | Panchayati raj has its origins in India since [[Vedic period]] (1700 BCE). Since Vedic times, the village (gram) in the country is considered as the basic unit for regional self-administration.<ref>Panchayati Raj: The Grassroots Dynamics in Arunachal Pradesh, p. 13, APH Publishing, 2008, Pratap Chandra Swain</ref> | ||
[[File:Panchayat India.jpg|thumb|Open Panchayat near Narsingarh, [[Madhya Pradesh]]]] | [[File:Panchayat India.jpg|thumb|Open Panchayat near Narsingarh, [[Madhya Pradesh]]]] | ||
[[Mahatma Gandhi]] advocated Panchayati Raj as the foundation of India's political system, as a decentralized form of government in which each village would be responsible for its own affairs.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Sisodia, R. S. |year=1971 |title=Gandhiji's Vision of Panchayati Raj |journal=Panchayat Aur Insan |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=9–10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Sharma, Manohar Lal |year=1987 |title=Gandhi and Democratic Decentralization in India |location=New Delhi |publisher=Deep and Deep Publications|oclc=17678104}} [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000916234 Hathi Trust copy, search only]</ref> The term for such a vision was ''[[Swaraj|Gram Swaraj]]'' ("village self-governance"). Instead, India developed a highly centralized form of government.<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Hardgrave, Robert L. |author2=Kochanek, Stanley A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation |edition=seventh |location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=[[Thomson/Wadsworth]] |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC&pg=PT157 157] |isbn=978-0-495-00749-4}}</ref> However, this has been moderated by the delegation of several administrative functions to the local level, empowering elected gram panchayats. There are significant differences between the traditional Panchayati Raj system, that was envisioned by Gandhi, and the system formalized in India in 1992.<ref name="Singh 2003">{{Cite book|author=Singh, Vijandra |year=2003 |chapter=Chapter 5: Panchayate Raj and Gandhi |title=Panchayati Raj and Village Development: Volume 3, Perspectives on Panchayati Raj Administration |series=Studies in public administration |location=New Delhi |publisher=Sarup & Sons |pages=84–90|isbn=978-81-7625-392-5}}</ref> | [[Mahatma Gandhi]] advocated Panchayati Raj as the foundation of India's political system, as a decentralized form of government in which each village would be responsible for its own affairs.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Sisodia, R. S. |year=1971 |title=Gandhiji's Vision of Panchayati Raj |journal=Panchayat Aur Insan |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=9–10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Sharma, Manohar Lal |year=1987 |title=Gandhi and Democratic Decentralization in India |location=New Delhi |publisher=Deep and Deep Publications|oclc=17678104}} [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000916234 Hathi Trust copy, search only]</ref> The term for such a vision was ''[[Swaraj|Gram Swaraj]]'' ("village self-governance"). Instead, India developed a highly centralized form of government.<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Hardgrave, Robert L. |author2=Kochanek, Stanley A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation |edition=seventh |location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=[[Thomson/Wadsworth]] |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC&pg=PT157 157] |isbn=978-0-495-00749-4}}</ref> However, this has been moderated by the delegation of several administrative functions to the local level, empowering elected gram panchayats. There are significant differences between the traditional Panchayati Raj system, that was envisioned by Gandhi, and the system formalized in India in 1992.<ref name="Singh 2003">{{Cite book|author=Singh, Vijandra |year=2003 |chapter=Chapter 5: Panchayate Raj and Gandhi |title=Panchayati Raj and Village Development: Volume 3, Perspectives on Panchayati Raj Administration |series=Studies in public administration |location=New Delhi |publisher=Sarup & Sons |pages=84–90|isbn=978-81-7625-392-5}}</ref> | ||
The | [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] inaugurated Panchayati at [[Nagaur]] on October 2, 1959. The day was selected on the occasion of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s birthday. Gandhi wanted Gram Swaraj through Panchayati Raj.<ref name="Sharma"/> Rajasthan was the first state to implement it. Nehru inaugurated Panchayat Raj in Andhra Pradesh on October 11, 1959 on the occasion of [[Dussehra]]. The system was gradually established all over India.<ref name="Singh"/> The system was modified in 1992 with the 73rd constitutional amendment.<ref name="Singh 2003"/><ref name="dandc.eu"/> | ||
The [[Balwant Rai Mehta Committee]], headed by | The [[Balwant Rai Mehta Committee]], headed by the Member of Parliament [[Balwantrai Mehta]], was a committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the work of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953), to suggest measures to improve their work. The committee's recommendation was implemented by NDC in January 1958, and this set the stage for the launching of Panchayati Raj Institutions throughout the country. The committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralization’, which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj. This led to the establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj system: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. | ||
On 24 April 1993, the Constitutional ( | On 24 April 1993, the Constitutional (73rd amendment) Act of 1992 came into force in India to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions. This amendment was extended to Panchayats in the tribal areas of eight states, namely: [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Gujarat]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Odisha]], and [[Rajasthan]] beginning on 24 December 1996. This amendment contains provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats, both for the preparation of economic development plans and social justice, as well as for implementation in relation to 29 subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution, and the ability to levy and collect appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.<ref name="India 2007">India 2007, p. 696, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India</ref> The Act aims to provide a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all states having a population of over two million, to hold Panchayat elections regularly every five years, to provide seats reserved for [[scheduled castes]], [[scheduled tribes]] and women, to appoint a State Finance Commission to make recommendations regarding the financial powers of the Panchayats, and to constitute a District Planning Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbrdp.gov.in/documents/6205745/98348119/Panchayati%20Raj%20System%20in%20Independent%20India.pdf|title=Panchayati Raj System in Independent India|website=Pbrdp.gov.in|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> | ||
== Gram panchayat sabha == | == Gram panchayat sabha == | ||
The [[Sarpanch]] is its elected head. The members of the gram panchayat are elected directly by the voting-age village population for a period of five years.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDoppmCmeqUC&q=sarpanch |title=Citizen Participation in Rural Development|last=Seetharam |first=Mukkavilli |date=1990 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=9788170992271 |oclc=23346237 |page=34 |language=en}}</ref> | The [[Sarpanch]] is its elected head. The members of the gram panchayat are elected directly by the voting-age village population for a period of five years.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDoppmCmeqUC&q=sarpanch |title=Citizen Participation in Rural Development|last=Seetharam |first=Mukkavilli |date=1990 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=9788170992271 |oclc=23346237 |page=34 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
== Block level panchayat or Panchayat Samiti == | == Block level panchayat or Panchayat Samiti == | ||
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=== Composition === | === Composition === | ||
Membership in the block panchayat is mostly [[Wiktionary:ex-official|ex-official]]; it is composed of: all of the ''Sarpanchas'' (gram panchayat chairmen) in the Panchayat Samiti area, the MPs and MLAs of the area, the | Membership in the block panchayat is mostly [[Wiktionary:ex-official|ex-official]]; it is composed of: all of the ''Sarpanchas'' (gram panchayat chairmen) in the Panchayat Samiti area, the MPs and MLAs of the area, the Sub-District Officer (SDO) of the sub-division, co-opt members (representatives of the SCs , STs and women), associate members (a farmer from the area, a representative of the cooperative societies and one from marketing services), and some elected members. However, in Kerala, block panchayat members are directly elected, just like gram panchayat and district panchayat members. | ||
=== | The Panchayat Samiti is elected for a term of five years and is headed by a chairman and a deputy chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bodhivriksh.org/2019/06/14/panchayati-raj-system-article-243/ |title=Panchayati Raj System and Article 243 – Bodhivriksh |website=bodhivriksh.org |access-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920135109/https://bodhivriksh.org/2019/06/14/panchayati-raj-system-article-243/ |archive-date=20 September 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
== System in | == System in practice == | ||
The Panchayats, throughout the years, have relied on federal and state grants to sustain themselves economically. The absence of mandatory elections for the Panchayat council and infrequent meetings of the Sarpanch have decreased the spread of information to villagers, leading to more state regulation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dwivedi|first1=Ritesh|last2=Poddar|first2=Krishna|date=2013-12-01|title=Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India: A Status Paper|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277901610|journal=Adhyayan|volume=3|issue=2|doi=10.21567/adhyayan.v3i2.10183}}</ref> Many Panchayats have been successful in achieving their goals, through cooperation between different bodies and the political mobilization of previously underrepresented groups in India. There is an obstacle of literacy that many Panchayats face for engagement of villagers, with most development schemes being on paper. However, homes linked to the Panchayati Raj System have seen an increase in participation for local matters.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singhal|first=Vipin|date=2015-11-17|title=Dynamics of Panchayati Raj Institutions – Problems and Prospects|language=en|location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=2692119}}</ref> The reservation policy for women on the Panchayat councils have also led to a substantial increase in female participation and have shaped the focus of development to include more domestic household issues.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Billava|first1=Nnarayan|last2=Nayak|first2=Nayanatara|date=2016-01-01|title=Empowerment of Women Representatives in Panchayat Raj Institutions: A Thematic Review|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319297501|journal=Journal of Politics and Governance|volume=5|issue=4|pages=5|doi=10.5958/2456-8023.2016.00001.2}}</ref> | The Panchayats, throughout the years, have relied on federal and state grants to sustain themselves economically. The absence of mandatory elections for the Panchayat council and infrequent meetings of the Sarpanch have decreased the spread of information to villagers, leading to more state regulation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dwivedi|first1=Ritesh|last2=Poddar|first2=Krishna|date=2013-12-01|title=Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India: A Status Paper|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277901610|journal=Adhyayan|volume=3|issue=2|doi=10.21567/adhyayan.v3i2.10183}}</ref> Many Panchayats have been successful in achieving their goals, through cooperation between different bodies and the political mobilization of previously underrepresented groups in India. There is an obstacle of literacy that many Panchayats face for engagement of villagers, with most development schemes being on paper. However, homes linked to the Panchayati Raj System have seen an increase in participation for local matters.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singhal|first=Vipin|date=2015-11-17|title=Dynamics of Panchayati Raj Institutions – Problems and Prospects|language=en|location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=2692119}}</ref> The reservation policy for women on the Panchayat councils have also led to a substantial increase in female participation and have shaped the focus of development to include more domestic household issues.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Billava|first1=Nnarayan|last2=Nayak|first2=Nayanatara|date=2016-01-01|title=Empowerment of Women Representatives in Panchayat Raj Institutions: A Thematic Review|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319297501|journal=Journal of Politics and Governance|volume=5|issue=4|pages=5|doi=10.5958/2456-8023.2016.00001.2}}</ref> | ||
== | In 1992, the 73rd amendment was passed, transforming the role of women in Panchayati raj.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaul |first=Shashi |last2=Sahni |first2=Shradha |date=2009-07-01 |title=Study on the Participation of Women in Panchayati Raj Institution |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09737189.2009.11885273 |journal=Studies on Home and Community Science |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=29–38 |doi=10.1080/09737189.2009.11885273 |issn=0973-7189}}</ref> The 73rd amendment established reservation of one-third of seats for women in basic village councils. This reservation had led to a significant increase in women's participation in local governance. Women are now serving as elected representatives in various positions, including as Sarpanch (village head) and Panchayat members. Women also demonstrated their positive and enlightened thinking in the panchayat to respond to the government's expectations of women. The supportive actions from their families are encouraging women to attend every PRI (Panchayati Raj in India) meeting. Even though the bureaucracy was all male dominated, Gandhi hoped that Panchayati raj could be the framework for a free Indian political order. As a promoter of liberalism, he proposed gram swaraj, or self-contained and autonomous villages, to give women the most rights.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaushik |first=Anupma |last2=Shaktawat |first2=Gayatri |date=December 2010 |title=Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Case Study of Chittorgarh District Council |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0169796X1002600404 |journal=Journal of Developing Societies |language=en |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=473–483 |doi=10.1177/0169796X1002600404 |issn=0169-796X}}</ref> The 73rd amendment was also resisted because reservation of seats meant that high caste people had to accept marginal caste women into the political empowerment system. Indirectly, this leads to corruption when the government devotes funds to the grassroots panchayat where resources and funds are exploited by bureaucratic channels.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tiwari |first=Nupur |date=January 2008 |title=Women in Panchayati Raj |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0019556120080103 |journal=Indian Journal of Public Administration |language=en |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=34–47 |doi=10.1177/0019556120080103 |issn=0019-5561}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061129102419/http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=333357&sid=REG Article 333357], zeenews.com | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061129102419/http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=333357&sid=REG Article 333357], zeenews.com | ||
* [https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/india/India994-07.htm Article India994-07], hrw.org | * [https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/india/India994-07.htm Article India994-07], hrw.org | ||
== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
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== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070329082726/http://panchayat.nic.in/ Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India] | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070329082726/http://panchayat.nic.in/ Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India] | ||
* {{Cite web|url=http://rural.nic.in/ |title=Home page |publisher=Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India}} | * {{Cite web|url=http://rural.nic.in/ |title=Home page |publisher=Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India}} | ||