Chapter 11: Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas
How do villages govern themselves? In this chapter we explore the Panchayati Raj system: the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat, inspiring Sarpanchs, children's councils, and the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.
In this chapter you will
- describe the three tiers of Panchayati Raj
- explain how the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat work
- explain how children can take part through Bal Panchayats
- describe the roles of the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad
Topics
- The Panchayati Raj System NCERT 11.1
Panchayati Raj is local self-government in villages.
- The Gram Panchayat NCERT 11.2
The Gram Sabha (all adult village voters) elects the Gram Panchayat and its head, the Sarpanch.
- Exemplary Sarpanchs NCERT 11.3
Exemplary Sarpanchs solve real problems like water, schooling and cleanliness with villagers' help.
- Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative NCERT 11.4
Bal Sabhas and Bal Panchayats let children voice their needs to the Panchayat.
- Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad NCERT 11.5
The Panchayat Samiti (block) links Gram Panchayats to the Zila Parishad (district) and helps get funds.
Key words
- Panchayati Raj
- the system of local self-government in villages
- Gram Sabha
- all adult voters of a village
- Sarpanch
- the elected head of a Gram Panchayat
- Patwari
- an officer who keeps land records
- Bal Panchayat
- a children's council
- Zila Parishad
- the district-level body of Panchayati Raj
Summary
- Panchayati Raj is three-tier local self-government: village, block and district.
- The Gram Sabha elects the Gram Panchayat and its Sarpanch, and keeps checking its work.
- Good Sarpanchs and Bal Panchayats show how people, including children, can improve village life.
- The Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad plan and fund development; one-third of seats are for women.