The Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), India’s rural local self-government system, was founded in 1992 by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. It is in charge of overseeing local issues and rural development through elected local organisations.
On April 24, 2023, the Government of India will host an event in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) – Samaaveshi Vikaas (Inclusive Development) initiative to celebrate National Panchayati Raj Day. The goal of this campaign is to acknowledge the growing number of people-centric initiatives.
The Prime Minister will attend the event as the principal guest and address the elected officials, staff members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, and members of Special Gramme Sabhas from around the nation. The distribution of SVAMITVA Property Cards to chosen recipients and the inauguration of an integrated e-GramSwaraj and GeM site for public procurement at the Panchayat level will be among the event’s highlights.
Significance Of National Panchayati Raj Day 2023
The commemoration of National Panchayati Raj Day is a crucial step in gaining support for India@2047 and advancing efforts to implement the global SDGs agenda locally by 2030. Over one lakh people, including leaders of Panchayati Raj Institutions, various stakeholders, and rural inhabitants, will attend the event.
Additionally, an exhibition showcasing different thematic stalls will be installed at the venue of the national NPRD-2023 function for the benefit of the general public, featuring initiatives and accomplishments under various government programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G), Amrit Sarovar, Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, Rural Tourism Development (Home Stay), SVAMITVA, Jal Jeevan Mission, and others.
Features Of National Panchayati Raj Day 2023
The Gramme Sabha at the village level, and Panchayats at the intermediate and district levels, make up the three-tiered structure of the Panchayati Raj system in India. Gramme Sabhas are groups of enrolled voters who carry out duties assigned by the state legislature. With the exception of states with populations of less than 20 lakhs, the three-tier system provides homogeneity in the majority of states.
While the chairman is indirectly chosen, all members are directly elected. Election regulations are set by the state legislature. Women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes are all given reserved seats, with one-third of all seats up for direct election going to female candidates. The state legislature may also grant reserves to economically disadvantaged groups.
Panchayats have a five-year term that can be terminated earlier. Before the natural term expires or within six months after dissolution, new elections must be held. A candidate must be at least 21 years old to be eligible, and disqualification is decided by state legislation governing elections for state legislatures. The power for disqualification is decided by the state legislature.
The governor selects the commissioner of the state election commission, which is responsible for monitoring electoral registers and election procedures. Only the grounds for dismissing a judge may be used to dismiss a commissioner. Panchayats are granted the essential rights and authority for self-government by the state legislature.
Tax levying, tax collection, tax appropriation, grant-in-aid receipt, and fund establishment are all vested in the Panchayats. An annual financial commission is created by the governor to examine the state’s finances, offer suggestions, and present results to the central finance commission. The PRI auditing system is decided by the state legislature.
The President may order the Panchayati Raj system to be implemented in Union Territories with certain adjustments. Unless specifically modified by parliament, provisions are not applicable to Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, scheduled regions, tribal territories, Manipur’s hill region, or the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Courts are prohibited from interfering in electoral or delimitation concerns, which are decided by the state legislature. The PRI’s jurisdictional boundaries are shown in the 11th schedule.
History Of National Panchayati Raj Day 2023
There are several eras to consider while examining the Panchayati Raj’s historical development in India. A notion known as “Panchayatan” that featured a spiritual man among a group of five persons was common throughout the Vedic era. The king would consult democratic local groups like the Sabha, Samiti, and Vidatha throughout the Epic period while making specific choices.
In the ancient era, a headman and council of elders played a key role in village life as part of a well-established local government structure that followed customary patterns. Casteism and the feudalistic form of administration established by the Mughals during the mediaeval era, however, caused the self-government of villages to deteriorate.
Village panchayats lost their independence and weakened during the British administration. The Mayo’s resolution of 1870 gave local institutions a boost by expanding their authority and responsibilities, and Lord Rippon gave these institutions a democratic foundation by requiring that two-thirds of all boards be composed of elected non-officials. With the establishment of the Royal Commission on Centralization in 1907, which acknowledged the significance of panchayats at the village level, local self-government organisations gained a boost.
Panchayats were referenced in Article 40 of the Constitution when it went into effect, and Article 246 gave the state assembly the authority to enact laws on any matter pertaining to local self-government. But until the government launched the Panchayat Raj Institutions plan in the 1980s, Panchayati Raj institutions remained weak despite constitutional mandates.
The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 established the Panchayati Raj institutions as a constitutional requirement and outlined the transfer of authority, responsibility, and resources to the panchayats. Institutions of Panchayati Raj are now essential to India’s development and grassroots democracy.
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