Panchayati Raj

Points to remember:

1. Panchayti Raj was constitutionalised through the 73rd Constitutional amendment act of 1992
2. Balwant Raj Mehta Commitee: In 1957 this committee has been appointed to examine the working of the community development programme(1952) & National Extension services(1953) under the chairmanship of Balwant Raj G Mehta. Committee recommended the the establishment of the scheme of 'Democratic Decentralization' or panchayti raj. Committee suggested to establishment of three tier Panchayti raj system, Gram Panchayat @ village level, Panchayat Samiti @ block level, zila Parishad @ district level.Gram panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives where as Panchayat samiti & Zila parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members.Panchayat samiti would be executive body & zila parishad as coordinatoir & supervisor.
3. Ashok Mehta Committee : In 1977 under the chairman ship of ashok mehta there had been appointed one committee for panchayti raj institutions.  Committee recommended to replace the 3 tier structure of panchayti raj by 2 tier. Zila parishad @ distric level & below it  mandal panchayat consisting of multiple village. This committee has recommended that panchayti raj should have compulsory powers of taxation to mobilize their own financial resources.other recommendations by this committee are as appointment of ministers in state council of ministers to look after the affair of panchayti raj,Zila parishad should be the executive body & made responsible for planning at district level, A district should be the first point for decentralization under popular supervision below the state level.
4. GVK Rao Committee:-In 1985 Planning commission  had appointed the committee on Administrative Arrangement for Rural Development & Poverty Alleviation Programmes under the chairmanship of GVK Rao.  .Committee recommended that District is the proper unit for Planning & development and Zila parishad should become the principal body  for Management of all develop programmes which can handled at that level. The Panchayti raj at the district level & lower level should be assigned an important role with respect to Planning ,Implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes.   A post of District Development Commissioner should be created & he should act as CEO of zila parishad & should be incharge of all development departments at district level.                                                                                                             
5.  L M Singhvi Committee:-In 1986 Rajiv gandhi government appointed committee under chairman ship of LM singhvi . Committee recommended that Panchayti raj should be constitutionally recognized  by adding a new chapter in  the Constitution of india,Nyay Panchayat should be established for cluster of villages.The jusdicial Tribunals need to setup in each state to adjudicate the controversies about panchayti raj election, their dissolution or any other matter related to their functioning .
6. Under PV Narshimha Rao government , constitutionalization of Panchayti Raj finally happened as 73rd constitutional amendment act 1992..
7. 73rd constitutional amendment act 1992 has added a new part-IX to the constitution of india .It is entiteled as Panchayats.In addition the act has also added new  eleventh schedule to the constituition. It contains 29 functional items of the panchayats.
8. The act provides for a three-tier system of Paqnchayti Raj in every state , that is , panchayats at village level, intermediate & district levels .
9. A state having population not exceeding more than 20 lakh may not constitute Panchayats at intermediate level.
10. All the members of Panchayats at village level, intermediate level & district level should be directly elected by people,Further the chairpersons of panchayat at the intermediate & district level shall be elected indirectly by and from amongst the elected members thereof. However the chairperson at the village level shall be elected in such manner as the state legislature determines
11. This act does not apply to the states of J&K,Nagaland,Meghalaya,Mizoram & certain other areas. These areas include a) the scheduled areas and the tribal areas in the states b) the hill area of manipur for which a district council exists c) Darjeeling district of West Bengal foir which Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council exists.
12. This act includes the Establishment of State Election commission for conducting elections to Panchayats & constitution of State Finance commission  after every five years to review the financial position of the Panchayats.
13. At present(2009) 9 states of india have scheduled areas 1 Andhra pradesh 2 Jharkhand 3  Chattisgarh 4 gujrat 5 madhya Pradesh 6 Maharashtra 7 orissa 8 Himachal Pradesh 9 Rajasthan 
14. There are total ten tribal areas(autonomous districts)

1. Assam(3)
2. Meghalaya(3)
3. Tripura(1)
4. Mizoram(3)

1.