Page 205 - SST Class 06
P. 205
5 5 5
Panchayati Raj System
Political decentralisation generally means strong features and their working also differs from one
and vibrant means of local government. another.
Decision-making being closer to the people, STRUCTURE OF THE PANCHAYATI RAJ
decentralisation ensures decision-makers more SYSTEM
effective accountability to the governed.
Three Tier Structure of Panchayati Raj System
Panchayat Raj, a synonym of democratic decen-
(As per the Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994)
tralisation, was introduced in India in the late
Zilla Parisad – District Level
1950s and early 1960s to restore to the erstwhile
institution of Panchayat the pristine glory that it
Anchalik Panchyat – Block Level
enjoyed in ancient India. It was introduced by
73rd amendment to the constitution and formally
recognised the third tier of government at the Gaon Panchayat – Village Level
sub-State level, thereby creating the legal condi-
tions for local self-rule – or Panchayati Raj. India
has a cheered history starting from self-sufficient Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha
and self-governing village communities that (Para/Mouza Level)
survived the rise and fall of empires in the past to
the modern institutions of governance with The Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system. It
constitutional support. Though the basic structure works at three levels—the Gram Panchayat at the
village level, the Block Samiti at the block level
of the PRIs or panchayat raj institutions is
and the Zila Parishad at the district level. A few
identical across the states of India, it is described
Panchayats are combined to form a Block
via different nomenclatures in different states. All
Samiti. A Block Samiti is the organisation formed
the Panchayats has their own characteristic
to take care of the needs of the whole block.
However, there are certain things the Block
Samiti also cannot handle by itself. Block Samiti
also cannot handle by itself. The organisation at
the apex of the Panchayati Raj system called the
Zila Parishad, helps the Block Samitis. It consists
of the representatives of the Block Samitis of the
district and other members who work at the
district level.
Key Features of Panchayat Raj System
g The Gram Sabha is a body consisting of all
Panchayat the people registered in the electoral rolls
Social Science-6 205
