Panchayat Raj Complete Notes PDF

**[Panchayat Raj]** **I. Answer the following** **1. What are the three levels of the Panchayat Raj system?** The three levels of the Panchayati Raj system are the Gram Panchayats, the Panchayat Samiti or the Janpad Panchayat and the District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad. **2. Who elects the m...

**[Panchayat Raj]** **I. Answer the following** **1. What are the three levels of the Panchayat Raj system?** The three levels of the Panchayati Raj system are the Gram Panchayats, the Panchayat Samiti or the Janpad Panchayat and the District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad. **2. Who elects the members of the Gram Panchayat ?** Members of the Gram Sabha elect the members of the Gram Panchayat from among themselves through secret voting. **3. Who is a Sarpanch?** The sarpanch presides over the meetings of the Gram Panchayat and supervises its work. He/she implements the development work. He/she is selected from the elected members of the Gram Panchayat. **4. Which ministry was formed at the government level to govern the Panchayat Raj?** The Ministry of Panchayati Raj was formed at the government level to govern the Panchayati Raj. **5. Are women allowed to take up positions in panchayat?** Yes, in-fact there is reservation of 33% of panchayat posts for women, as mandated by the Constitution. Further it is approved by central government for 50% **6. What is the primary duty of the Nyaya Panchayat?** The primary duty of the Nyaya Panchayat is to help resolve minor cases at the local level in an inexpensive way. This helps the parties involved save time and money. **II. Answer in brief** **1. What do you understand by the Panchayat Raj system?** - The Panchayati Raj system is a three-tier system of self governance with Gram Panchayats at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti or the Janpad Panchayat at the block level and the District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad at the district level. - The system fulfils the needs and solves the problems of the rural areas. - All the adults of the village are members of the Panchayati Raj system at some level. **2. Discuss briefly the importance of the Gram Sabha?** - All men and women of the village above eighteen years of age are members of Gram Sabha. Hence, it can be said to be a general body meeting of the village. - It ensures development of the people through their participation and mutual cooperation in the decision-making process. - It plays a crucial role in electing the members of the panchayat, who are answerable to the Gram Sabha for their work and making them fulfil its role and responsibilities. - It acts as a check on the panchayat and prevents it from misusing its powers. **3. What is the relationship between Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat?** - The members of the Gram Panchayat are elected by the members of the Gram Sabha from among them. - The Gram Sabha acts as a check on the Gram Panchayat and prevents it from misusing its powers. - The representatives elected to the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha for their actions and need to get their work approved by the Gram Sabha. **4. List sources of income of Gram Panchayat.** - The two sources of income of the Gram Panchayat are the tax levied on houses and shops and other open spaces in the village - professional tax, taxes on pilgrimages, fairs and markets and animal trade. - Another source is the grants it receives from the state government and the Zila Parishad. **5. How does Panchayat Raj empower women?** - Our constitution mandated reservation of 33% of panchayat posts for women. Further it is approved by central government for 50% - Women have now begun to take charge of their official responsibilities in panchayats. - In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, empowerment of women through the panchayats has led to their networking into federations of elected women representatives. - They have discovered added strength to assent their collective voice in issues of social reform, such as discontinuing child marriages, ensuring that girl children go to school etc **III. Answer in detail** **1. Discuss the main functions of the Gram Panchayat.** The main functions of the Gram Panchayat are: Levying and collecting taxes, tolls and fees from their village Ensuring welfare of the people at the village level including health, education, communal harmony, social justice particularly gender and caste based discrimination, dispute resolution, welfare of children, especially the girl child Construction and repair of village wells and hand pumps, roads, drainage and school buildings and plantation of trees Maintenance of records relating to births, deaths and marriages in the village Implementing government schemes for generating employment in the village **HOTS** **2. Why do you think women have been given representation in the Panchayat? Will this help?** - Women have been considered second class citizens for long. They have been under the influence and control of men for centuries. - They have been given representation in the panchayats to empower them. This will help them come out of the shadow of their men. - Already women have started taking charge of their official responsibilities in the panchayats. - They have discovered added strength to assent their collective voice in issues of social reform, such as discontinuing child marriages, ensuring that girl children go to school etc