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The NREGA Yojna was launched in 2006.

The Panchayati Raj ordinance was amended on 2000.

(c)  5 years

(c) April, 1999

(b) Panchayat Samiti

The Pradhanmantri Gramodaya Yojna was started in 2000.

At the top of the Panchayati Raj there is a district level unit in each district. It is known as Zila Parishad in Rajasthan. Bihar, Odisa, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. The Gujarat government has changed its name to the Zila Panchayat in the amended draft of the Panchayat Act, 1986. After 73rd constitutional amendment it has been named in almost all the state as Zila Parishad or Zila Panchayat.

Gram Sabha – 

According to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 there will be a Gram Sabha for each panchayat circle, which will include all the individuals of the village or group of villages within the Panchayat area, enrolled in the voters’ list. Ward Sabha will hold at least its two meetings a year. 

Functions of Gram Sabha are – 

1. Helping in the implementation of the development plans related to the Panchayat area. 

2. Making available voluntary labour and contributions in cash or kind for the community welfare programmes. 

3. Identification of the suitable officers for the implementation of the development schemes. 

4. Promoting adult education and family welfare within such an area. 

5. Creating an atmosphere of cordiality and unity among all the communities of the Panchayat area. 

6. Asking for clarification from the sarpanch and members of the Panchayàt regarding implementation plans, income and expenditure details. 

7. Other works delegated to the Gram Sabha.

Functions of Gram Sabha are – 

1. Helping in the implementation of the development plans related to the Panchayat area. 

2. Making available voluntary labour and contributions in cash or kind for the community welfare programmes. 

3. Identification of the suitable officers for the implementation of the development schemes. 

4. Promoting adult education and family welfare within such an area. 

5. Creating an atmosphere of cordiality and unity among all the communities of the Panchayat area. 

6. Asking for clarification from the sarpanch and members of the Panchayàt regarding implementation plans, income and expenditure details. 

7. Other works delegated to the Gram Sabha.

Gram Sabha – According to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 there will be a Gram Sabha for each panchayat circle, which will include all the individuals of the village or group of villages within the Panchayat area, enrolled in the voters’ list. Ward Sabha will hold at least its two meetings a year.

A gram sabha should hold minimum 6 meetings in a year.

Duration of the Panchayati Raj institutions in Rajasthan is 5 years.

(c) Panchayati Raj Institution

The middle tier of the Panchayati Raj is known as the Panchayat samiti.

(a) April 24, 1994

All the adult citizens (i.e. Voters) together in the Panchayat area, form the gram sabha.

(b) Balwant Rai Mehta Samiti

(d) Zila Parishad

Functions and Powers of the Panchayat samiti: 

1. Effective execution of any scheme entrusted to it by the state government and providing help in the times of Natural calamities. 

2. Promoting agriculture development and expansion of credit facilities. 

3. Expansion of Land Reforms and currency conservation functions. 

4. Preparing and Executing poverty alleviation programmes. 

5. Promotion of fishery. 

6. Supervision and execution of cattle rearing services and reform of new breeds. 

7. Every possible effort for the development of Khadi, Gramin and Cottage industry. 

8. Control over water pollution and providing clean drinking water. 

9. Execution of Rural housing schemes and realisation of loan installments. 

10.Promotion of literacy development programmes and making adequate arrangement for buildings and teachers. 

11.Making people aware of health and family welfare programmes and executing them. 

12.Execution of women and child welfare programmes. 

13.Inspiring people to work unitedly through co-operative campaigns. 

14.Maintenance of, and control over community properties/Assets.

Three tiers (levels) of the Panchayati Raj are:

1. Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats 

2. Panchayat Samitis 

3. Zila Parishads

I. Rural Development at the village level – Development at the village level is the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat which is the executive body of the Gram Sabha. 

Gram Sabha is the very basis of the Panchayati Raj. It is expected of the Gram Panchayat at the village level to acquire powers from the Gram Sabha and to be responsible to it (Gram Sabha) because Gram Sabha comprises of all the adult citizens of the village irrespective of caste or sex.

Gram Panchayat is the elected executive body of the Gram Sabha at the village level. Gram Panchayat is known by different names in India. In Rajasthan it is known as Panchayat. In our country one Panchayat is organised for the population of about 2000. Its strength varies from 5 to 31 members in different states. As per the 73rd constitutional amendment duration of the Panchayat in all the states is five years. Members of the Panchayat are known as Panches and they are elected directly. 

At the village level the Gram Sabha performs the following development functions:

1. Implementation of development plans in the concerned Panchayat area. 

2. Search of executive officers for implementing development plans. 

3. Making available voluntary labour and help in cash or kind for the community welfare programmes. 

4. Promoting adult education and family welfare programmes. 

5. Getting clarification from any member or Sarpanch of the Panchayat regarding implementation of programmes, future plans, income and expenditure etc. 

6. Promoting cordiality and unity in all the communities of the society in the Panchayat area. 

7. Other development works delegated to it. 

II. Rural Development at the Block Level – 

At the block level there is a Panchayat samiti for development works. According to 73rd constitutional amendment the term of each Panchayat samiti is 5 years. It is the important middle tier institution of the Panchayati Raj because main development works are entrusted to it. Zila Parishad has, to mainly, coordinate and conduct the activities of the Panchayat samitis.

Panchayat samitis prepare development works and gets them implemented. It has been entrusted with the basic administrative and financial functions and powers.

Gram Sabha elect the members of the Gram Pnchayat. It can question Gram Panchayat and keep watch on their work.Local problems of the villagers can be discussed in the meeting and can recommend solutions to the problems and their needs. 

Yes, it is important to all the members to attend the meeting of Gram Sabha. It secures the participation of the villagers in the commodity development.It is the forum where they can discuss the welfare programmes of the village.

(a) Task: A connecting road from village to the main road.
(b) Fund: Major part of the money came from the State Government and minor part of money came from Gram Panchayat fund.
(c) Yes, the work has been completed on time.

The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all people (men and women) of the age of 18 years or above, who live in the area covered by the Panchayat. Anyone who is 18 years old or more and live in the area covered, has a right to vote is a member of the Gram Sabha. 

Gram Sabha elect the members of the Gram Pnchayat. Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat are linked with each other through the meeting of Gram Sabha. The Panch and the Gram Panchayat is answerable to the members of Gram Sabha. Gram Sabha comes to know about the problems of the people and try to solve them.

a.There was acute water shortage in Nimon village and the villagers had to depend on tankers for their needs.So when the tanker came in the village, Bhagvan insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied in to storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply programme by Nimon Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water.But the upper caste men were against this and therefore they beat Bhagavan to suppress his demand. 

b.This is a clear case of caste based discrimination.In this case ,people from upper caste want to enjoy all the comforts.They also want to deny the lower caste people even the basic need of drinking water.It was not even emptied in tanks constructed by the Panchayat.

Watershed development programme is an initiative of the government.It is done by the Non-Government Organisation(NGOs).It is the conservation,recharging and judicious use of water resources like underground water,rivers etc and lands within the watershed area Benefits of watershed development are: 

1.It helps in conservation of water by plantation,making bunds, canals etc. 

2.It makes the land fertile and supports the growth of trees, plants and cultivation. 

3.It helps in the preservation of water and its resources. 

4.It prevents soil erosion.

The main problem which the people of the Hardas village faced was acute shotage of water. The hand pump water has gone well below the point up to which the ground has been drilled. They hardly get any water in the taps. Women have to go to the Suru river which is 3 k.m. away to get water. The villagers gathered together in the Gram Sabha meeting to find a solution of the problem.After long discussions,they came to a conclusion that they should find ways to conserve water like

Piping water from the river Suru and making an overhead tank in the village. 

Deepen the hand pumps and clean the wells for this session. 

Planting trees and construct check-dams and tanks etc. 

Finally,they came with the permanent solution of conserving water or watershed development.