Class 6 Social Science Chapter 11 Notes Grassroots Democracy Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas
→ Local Governance: Local governance involves the management and decision making of community affairs at the village town, or city level, aiming to address local; needs and implement policies effectively.
→ Panchayat: A Panchayat is a village-level governing body in India that manages local issues, resources, and development activities through elected representatives.
→ Gram Sabha: The Gram Sabha is a village: assembly consisting of all registered voters, which meets to discuss and make decisions on local matters and development issues.
→ Panchayat Samiti: The Panchayat Samiti is a block-level institution that coordinates and supports the activities of Gram Panchayats and implements district-level development projects.
→ Zila Parishad: The Zila Parishad is a district level governing body that oversees and supports the work of Panchayat Samitis manages district-wide development projects. and ensures effective implementation of policies at the district level.
Learning Objectives
- To understand about the Panchayati Raj System in India
- Gram Panchayat at grassroot level
- Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative
- Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad
Introduction
Local governments play a crucial role in managing everyday affairs within communities, especially in rural areas. In India, with its vast number of villages, local governance ensures that the specific needs and challenges faced by these communities are addressed effectively.
Panchayati Raj institutions are central to this system, functioning as the grassroots level of government. They handle various aspects of village life, such as infrastructure maintenance, resource management, and resolving local disputes.
Take the example of Lakshmanpur, a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas. With a population of about 700 people, most of whom are farmers, the village relies on Panchayati Raj institutions to manage essential tasks like maintaining roads, managing water resources for farming, and supporting the local school.
These institutions empower villagers to make decisions on issues directly affecting their daily lives, thereby ensuring that their needs are met efficiently. By bringing governance closer to the people, Panchayati Raj institutions play a vital role in effective administration and democracy, helping communities like Lakshmanpur thrive and address their unique challenges.
Panchayati Raj System
In every village in India, including Lakshmanpur, there is a system of local government called the ‘Panchayat,’ which is like a village council. The Panchayat system, also known as Panchayati Raj, brings governance closer to the people and allows them to take part in making important decisions. This system helps manage local issues, supports development, and ensures that government benefits reach the villagers.
The Panchayati Raj system operates at three levels: the village level with the Gram Panchayat, the block level with the Panchayat Samiti and the district level with the Zila Parishad. This three-tier system handles nearly all aspects of life in the district, including agriculture, road maintenance, water management, education, healthcare, and more. By working from the village up to the district, Panchayati Raj helps address local needs and promotes community well-being.
Gram Panchayat
Gram Panchayat is the most local level of government in rural areas. It is closest to the people and its members are directly elected by the Gram Sabha, which consists of all adults in the village or neighbouring villages who are registered voters. In the Gram Sabha, both men and women discuss and decide on local matters.
Each Gram Panchayat elects a head, known as the ‘Sarpanch’ or ‘Pradhan,’ and recently, more women have been stepping into this leadership role. Additionally, each Gram Panchayat is supported by a Panchayat Secretary, who handles administrative tasks, and often a Patwari, who manages land records.
Example 1
Notable Examples of Exemplary Sarpanchs:
Dnyaneshwar Kamble became the Sarpanch of Tarangfal village in Maharashtra in 2017. As a transgender person, Kamble broke barriers and promoted the idea that “Service to the village is service to the public.”
By defeating six other candidates, Kamble demonstrated the power of dedication and service in local governance. Vandana Bahadur Maida made history as the first female Sarpanch of Khankhandvi village in Madhya Pradesh. Despite facing societal challenges, she successfully encouraged women to participate in Gram.
Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative
Panchayats are local government groups that listen to everyone’s concerns, including children’s. The ChildFriendly Panchayat Initiative helps children share their ideas and worries about their well-being. In many states, children are invited to join Bal Sabhas and Bal Panchayats, where they can speak up about issues affecting them.
Example 2
Notable Examples of Child-Friendly Panchayat: Initiative:
In Maharashtra, Bal Panchayats have made a big difference by working to end child labour and child: marriages. They help bring children back to school and convince parents to let their children study instead of arranging early marriages.
In Sikkim, the Sangkhu Radhu Khandu Gram Panchayat has made schools safer by building walls around them and adding kitchens to provide healthy ; meals. Because of these efforts, it was named a childfriendly Panchayat.
In Rajasthan, the ‘Children’s Parliament’ created by Bunker Roy’s Barefoot College helps underprivileged; kids learn about democracy and leadership. Children: aged 8 to 14 participate in mock elections, manage school activities, and work on issues like education and sanitation. This initiative has been praised worldwide and won awards for empowering children including the World’s Children’s Honorary Award in 2001.
Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad
Apart from village-level Panchayats, there are also institutions at the block and district levels. These include the Panchayat Samiti at the block level and the Zila Parishad at the district level. The Panchayat Samiti connects the Gram Panchayat (village level) with the Zila Parishad. Members of these institutions are elected by local people and may also include village Sarpanchs and local State Legislative Assembly members.
Each State has slightly different rules for the Panchayat Samiti, but its main role is to bring together plans from different Gram Panchayats and present them at higher levels. This helps in obtaining funds for development projects and government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which promotes the construction of all-weather roads in rural areas.
To ensure everyone’s voice is heard, especially those from disadvantaged groups, special rules are in place. There is also a rule that one-third of the seats in these institutions are reserved for women by the 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts of the Constitution.