2. What Is Panchayat ?
โข The word โPanchayatโ means assembly (ayat) of five (panch) and raj means
โruleโ. Traditionally Panchayats consisted of elderly and wise people chosen by
the local community, who used to settle disputes between individuals and
villages. The leader of the panchayat used to be called as Mukhya or Sarpanch.
Generally the elder-most or most senior person would be elected to this
position. The Panchayati Raj system is also recognised as a form of direct
democracy (i.e they exercise all powers of a government at a village level), as
opposed to the popular notion that it is a type of representative democracy. As
per January 2019, there are 630 Zilla Panchayats; 6614 Block Panchayats and
253163 Gram Panchayats in India. There are currently more than 3 million
elected representatives (of which more than 1 million are women) for
panchayats at all levels.
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3. Importance of Panchayat
โข The PRIs are the local self-governing bodies that ensure the opportunity for peopleโs
participation and involvement in the formulation and implementation of rural
development programmes.
โข The main objective of Panchayat System in India is to strengthen the base of democracy at
the grass root level.
โข It was introduced as a real democratic political apparatus which would bring the masses
into active political control from below, from the vast majority of the weaker, poor sections
of rural India.
โข They play the role of a catalytic agent in integrating development of tribal masses in rural
areas.
โข Plan documents of both the central and state governments and various committees have
emphasised the importance of these bodies in the polity. Five-year plans have also laid
special emphasis on the role of Panchayats in rural developments.
4. Functions of Panchayat
โข Administrative functions:
1. Public works and welfare functions like construction, repair and
maintenance of village roads, bridges, drains and wells.
2. Registration of births and deaths.
3. Providing primary education, etc.
Social and economic functions: These are not obligatory.
1. Construction of guest houses, libraries, marriage halls, etc;
2. Planting of trees, parks, gardens and playgrounds for recreation;
3. Establishing fair price shops, Cooperative Credit Societies.
It also performs some judicial functions.
