Question

What is the link between the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat?

Answer 1

Hint: Panchayati Raj refers to units of local self-government in rural areas. In a diverse and vast country like ours, Panchayati Raj institutions are required for democratic decentralisation. Although Panchayati Raj institutions in India have a long history going back over a thousand years, it was only 1992 that a bill incorporating provisions related to Panchayati Raj was enacted as the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act and it came into force in 1993. It was the first legislation that granted Panchayati Raj institutions constitutional status and ensured free, fair and regular elections to them.

Complete answer: The 73rd Amendment Act 1992 provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with Gram Sabha as the base in villages, and above it, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad will be constituted at intermediate block and district levels respectively. The Gram Panchayat consists of the Gram Sabha and the Nyaya Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is responsible for village administration and implementing schemes of social development concerning matters enlisted on the 11th Schedule. The Nyaya Panchayat has judicial functions involving settling of disputes and small scale conflicts.

Note: In 1957, the National Development Council to organise and reconstruct local self-government at rural level appointed a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to come up with recommendations regarding the same. Based on those recommendations, the Panchayati Raj system was launched in Rajasthan on October 2, 1959, which became the first Indian state to do so.