Unit 1.2.docx

**Role of Gram Panchayat in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme** Hello everyone, In the previous lesson, you learnt about the basic understanding of a Gram Panchayat. Now we will see the role of Gram Panchayat in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi Nati...

**Role of Gram Panchayat in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme** Hello everyone, In the previous lesson, you learnt about the basic understanding of a Gram Panchayat. Now we will see the role of Gram Panchayat in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. **Subject to the provision of the State Panchayat Act and Rules, as an institution of self-government, a** Gram Panchayat has to play, among others, the following roles and responsibilities: - To keep close relation with the people and ensure their participation in implementation of various works. - To maintain liaison with upper tier Panchayats and administration, particularly the Block. - To hold Gram Sabha and Ward Sabhas as per provisions of the State Panchayat law. - To hold meetings of the general body, standing committees etc. as per provisions of law. - To perform such functions and discharge such responsibilities as may be entrusted by the State and Central Governments, including implementation of schemes assigned to it. - To deliver services to the citizens residing in the Gram Panchayat area as per rules/orders/ circulars of the State Government. - To attach priority to development of the backward sections of the society. - Timely implementation of the schemes following the prescribed procedure. - To receive and utilise funds from the State Government or the Central Government or other institutions as per provisions of law and utilise the same for the purposes for the funds are given, maintaining relevant rules and norms. - To manage the affairs of the Gram Panchayat as an institution of self-government, appropriate financial management including procurement, management and maintenance of accounts and records. - To mobilise and utilise Own Source Revenue (OSR) as per provisions of the State Panchayat Act and Rules. - To strive for convergence of different development schemes implemented by the offices of the line departments with the objective of attaining the goal for holistic and sustainable development in the area. - To maintain transparency in all its functions and accountability to the citizens through the Gram Sabha. - To exercise discretion in taking up measures for welfare of its citizens. ### Now let us see how many employees can there be in any Gram Panchayat and what are their and responsibilities in overall functioning of the Gram Panchayat? **The number of employees in Gram Panchayats varies from State to State. The most common categories of employees in any Gram Panchayat include -- Secretary, Gram Rozgar Sevak and Data Entry Operator.** **The other posts in some Gram Panchayats across India include Junior Engineer, Accounts Assistant, Tax Collector (permanent or commission based) and Chowkidar/Peon among others. There may also be temporary or contractual or daily rated workers in a Gram Panchayat. However, the responsibilities of the employees of any Gram Panchayat are to assist the Gram Panchayat in performing its functions and discharging its responsibilities with focus on the job chart assigned by the appointing authorities concerned.** You might have attended Gram Sabhas at your village. Now, let us see the difference between Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha? The 73^rd^ Act, 1992 defines "Panchayat as an institution of self-government constituted under article 243B, for the rural areas". "Gram Sabha" is an important decision-making body under the Panchayat. It consists of "persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level". The Gram Sabha "exercises powers and performs such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide". The panchayats make decisions and provide services to a maximum of 29 subjects, which may be lesser in number depending upon the number of items devolved in that state. This course deals with your role as a Gram Rozgar Sahayak in Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. It is essential to learn the role of Gram Panchayat in implementing Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. The Gram Panchayat (GP) is responsible for the following activities: ### Next, we see the role of Gram Sabha in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. The Gram Sabha (GS) has the following rights and responsibilities under the Act: i\. It determines the order of priority of works in the meetings of the Gram Sabha keeping in view potential of the local area, its needs, local resources (Para 4 (2), Schedule I). ii\. Monitor the execution of works within the GP. iii\. It is the primary forum for conduct of social audits. It provides a platform to all residents to seek and obtain all relevant information from all the Implementing Agencies including GP in relation to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works implemented in the GP area. **Summary** In this lesson we learnt about the various roles and responsibilities of a Gram Panchayat, the stakeholders and their duties. We also learnt about the role played by Gram Panchayat in implementing Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. Lastly, we concluded with role of Gram Sabha in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.