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(i) Gram Sabha : Every villager above the age of 18, whose name is on the voter list, is a
member of the Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha elects the members and the head of the
Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha reviews the work and accounts of the Gram Panchayat.
It can also remove corrupt or inefficient members of the Gram Panchayat. In this way, the
Gram Sabha allows all adult villagers a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

(ii) Gram Panchayat : The members of the Gram Panchayat are elected by the members of
the Gram Sabha for a period of five years. The number of members of a Panchayat is not
fixed. It depends on the density of population.
For Example :

It is fixed between 25-30 in UP It is fixed between 6-20 in Haryana

It is fixed between 5-9 in Punjab It is fixed between 5-15 in Rajasthan
It is fixed between 7-11 in Delhi.

Seats are reserved for SC, ST and women in Gram Panchayats. The Sarpanch or Pradhan is
the head of the Gram Panchayat, who is elected by the members of the Gram Panchayat.
The Sarpanch has power to sign important documents and he co-ordinates the activities of
the Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat also elects the Up-Pradhan, who works in the absence
of Pradhan. The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary, who is a government employee. His job
is to keep account of income and expenditure. He also keeps the records of the meetings
and the works done by the Panchayat.

functions of the gram Panchayat
The Gram Panchayat meets regularly to implement the compulsory Developmental

Programmes. It performs some compulsory and some optional functions at the village level.
comPulsory functions

• Looking after the general sanitation of the village.
• Provision of street lighting.
• Construction and maintenance of approach roads and dams.

• Management of cremation and burial ground.
• Provision of drinking water.
• Registration of births, deaths and marriages in the village.

• Cleanliness of public wells, tanks and other places.
• Maintenance of social education centre and Panchayat Ghar and provision of books,
radio, television, etc at the Panchayat Ghar.
• Checking unauthorised occupation of public land.
• The Gram Panchayat also finalizes the list of below poverty line families so that they
can benefit from the various developmental scheme.

oPtional functions

• Providing facilities for medical help to village people.
• Holding fairs and cattle shows.

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