Question

Discuss briefly the importance of the gram sabha

Answer 1

Importance of Gram Panchayat

The Gram Panchayat has many important functions to perform.

It plays an important role at providing some benefits for the community life of the rural people.

Some of the functions are meant for improving the economic life of the rural people.There are other functions through which attempts are made to provide social justice to people.

It is the duty of the Gram Panchayat to look after

the village health and sanitation system,to take preventive measures for resisting the spread of infectious diseases,to arrange for drinking water,building of new roads and repairing the old one,to reserve and maintain ponds,pasture-lands,cremation ground andgraveyards etc. for public use.

Gram Panchayat further plays important role  in :

the arrangement of street lights,tree plantation,digging of wells and ponds etc.to perform various cultural activities and encourage various types of games and sports,to supply food grains and other essential goods,welfare activities and other social welfare works for the disabled people,to look after old and powerless and helpless people,to do various welfare activities for the Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes,to rehabilitate the homeless peoples,to impart primary,social, technical,vocational education,adult education and non-formal education,to look after agriculture and its expansion,preservation of public property,encouraging co-operative farming,to arrange employment opportunities in industries and other areas,to build the village markets and preserve them,creation of different types of industries,animal husbandry, fishery,to establish libraries and conduct them properly,revival of the fallow land,to arrange adequate irrigation facilities and arranging different poverty eradication programs etc.

Answer 2

Gram Sabha has been envisaged as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system. A Gram Sabha consists of members that include every adult of the village. It is generally formed in villages with population at least exceeding 1500 people.

However, in some states, a Gram Sabha may be formed even if the population is less than 1500.

The members of the members of the Gram Panchayat are elected for five years.