Explain the structure of panchayat raj system
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Answer:
1. Gram Sabha:
The constitution (73rd Amendment) Act gives constitutional status to the Gram Sabha. Gram Sabha means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Gram Panchayat.
Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and performs such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a state may by law provide.
2. Gram Panchayat:
It is the first tier of Panchayati Raj system. It is the executive body of Gram Sabha. The size and term of Gram Panchayat varies from state to state. The Assam Act provides for the smallest number (I to 15), whereas Andhra Pradesh and Orissa have provision for larger bodies (15 to 17) and (11 to 25) respectively.
3. Zilla Parishad:
At the topmost tier, i.e. the District Level is the Zilla Parishad which is primarily a coordinating body supervising the activities of the Panchayats and Panchayat Samiti. There is no uniformity regarding the functions of the Zilla Parishad. In states like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam mid Orissa, the Zilla Parishad is an advisory, supervisory and a coordinating body.
It advises the government on development schemes and distributes the funds among the samitis.
The Zilla Parishad has no executive function to perform in these states. In Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, besides advisory, supervisory and coordinating functions, it performs several executive functions as well. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the Zilla Parisad is the strongest body in the Panchayati Raj structure and is vested with executive functions.
The nomenclature of the District Level Panchayati Raj body is not the same everywhere. In states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and UP it is called Zilla Parishad. It is called District Development Council in Tamil Nadu, Mohukma Parishad in Assam and District Panchayat in Gujarat.
Explanation: