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work as representatives of the people in State Legislature and Parliament. The Panchayats
have succeeded in drawing the attention of the government officials to their problems.
The system has helped in bringing about a green Revolution in many parts of the country,
specially in Punjab and Haryana. Agricultural production has increased a great deal.
However, there is the other side of the picture as well. Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions
are marked by violence. The panchayats are elected mostly on party or caste basis and
hence they do not work impartially. Most of the benefits do not reach the deserving people
but are covered by influential people. The Panchayati Raj institutions are not provided
with sufficient funds. Their sources of income are very limited. Even the funds sanctioned
by the government are misappropriated by the Panchayat. Therefore, to ensure proper
implementation of Panchayati Raj in all the states, the ministry of Panchayat Raj looks into
all matters relating to Panchayati Raj and its institutions. It awards the best Panchayat,
grants funds to backward regions and works for development and training of Panchayats.
• “Democracy requires every man or woman, to realize his or her responsibility. This is what is
meant by Panchayati Raj”. – Mahatma Gandhi.
• Rajasthan was the first state to adopt the Panchayati Raj System. While other states followed later on.
Now I Know :
The Panchayati Raj system makes democracy strong.
Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system, comprising of Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Panchayat Samiti at the
block level and Zila Parishad at the district level.
Gram Panchayat looks after the welfare of villages.
The members of Gram Panchayat are elected by Gram Sabha. A sarpanch or pradhan heads the Gram Panchayat.
The Gram Panchayat perfoms several compulsory and optional functions.
Nyaya panchayat is the judicial wing of the panchayat and decides (petty) civil cases.
The Block Samiti is the link between Gram Panchayat and Zila Parishad.
The Zila Parishad is the third and highest tier of Panchayati Raj and maintains links with the state government
at the district level.
Taxes, rent and grants from the State Government are the main sources of income of Gram Panchayats, Block
Samitis and Zila Parishads.
(Assessment of Learning Outcome)
A. Tick () the correct option :
1. Panchayati Raj is a system of local government at the:
(a) village level (b) city level (c) state level (d) none of these
2. Who is the head of Gram Panchayat?
(a) Sarpanch (b) up-Pradhan (c) Chairman (d) none of these
3. The Panchayati Raj is a:
(a) Two-tier system (b) three-tier system
(c) four-tier system (d) none of these
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