Features and Functions
The lowest tier of India’s rural local government structure is represented by gram panchayats. They are in charge of giving rural residents access to infrastructure and essential services. Among the characteristics and duties of gram panchayats are the following:
- It is a democratic organization, and elections are used to choose its members.
- It has a president and members who are chosen for terms of five years in office.
- Gram Panchayats’ main responsibility is to see to the village’s general development.
- In their respective areas, they have the authority to design, carry out, and oversee development programs.
- Moreover, they have the power to raise and administer funds for regional development.
- Basic services including water supply, sanitation, health, and education, as well as infrastructure like roads, power, and housing, are provided by gram panchayats.
Gram Panchayats
The Rural Local Government is also known as Panchayati Raj and Gram Panchayat is one of the smallest units at the level of the village. Each village or group of villages in some of the states has a gram panchayat.
In India’s rural areas, the Gram Panchayat serves as the fundamental level of local self-government. The Panchayati Raj system, which was instituted as a constitutional amendment in 1992 to support local democracy and devolution of authority, is at its base. Gram is a village, while Panchayat denotes a gathering of five senior citizens. Hence, the term “Gram Panchayat” designates a democratic body of elected officials that oversees the affairs of a village or group of villages.