Which of the following states took steps to revitalise Panchayati Raj...
- In December 1977, the Janata Government appointed a committee on Panchayati Raj institutions under the chairmanship of Ashoka Mehta. The committee submitted its report in August 1978 and made 132 recommendations to revive and strengthen the declining Panchayati Raj system in the country. As a result of this report, the Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal passed new legislation.
- However, the flow of politics at the state level did not allow the institutions to develop their own political dynamics.
Which of the following states took steps to revitalise Panchayati Raj...
Revitalization of Panchayati Raj:
Panchayati Raj is a system of local self-government in India that was introduced to ensure greater participation of people in the decision-making process of their local governance. However, over time, the system became weak due to various reasons such as lack of funds, lack of political will, and bureaucratic apathy. To address this issue, the government set up the Ashok Mehta committee in 1977 to recommend measures to revitalize the Panchayati Raj system.
Some of the key recommendations of the Ashok Mehta committee were:
- Establishment of a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with Gram Panchayats at the village level, Panchayat Samitis at the block level, and Zila Parishads at the district level.
- Devolution of powers and functions to Panchayats in areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry, primary health, and education.
- Creation of a State Election Commission to conduct free and fair Panchayat elections.
- Allocation of funds to Panchayats from the state and central government.
Steps taken by states to revitalize Panchayati Raj:
1. Karnataka:
Karnataka was one of the first states to take steps to revitalize Panchayati Raj based on the Ashok Mehta committee recommendations. The state government passed the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act in 1993, which established a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in the state.
Some of the key features of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act are:
- Reservation of seats for women and Scheduled Castes and Tribes in Panchayat elections.
- Devolution of powers and functions to Panchayats in areas such as health, education, and agriculture.
- Establishment of Gram Sabhas as a forum for people to participate in the decision-making process of their local governance.
- Allocation of funds to Panchayats from the state government.
2. West Bengal:
West Bengal also took steps to revitalize Panchayati Raj based on the Ashok Mehta committee recommendations. The state government passed the West Bengal Panchayat Act in 1973, which established a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in the state.
Some of the key features of the West Bengal Panchayat Act are:
- Reservation of seats for women and Scheduled Castes and Tribes in Panchayat elections.
- Devolution of powers and functions to Panchayats in areas such as health, education, and agriculture.
- Establishment of Gram Sabhas as a forum for people to participate in the decision-making process of their local governance.
- Allocation of funds to Panchayats from the state government.
3. Andhra Pradesh:
Andhra Pradesh also took steps to revitalize Panchayati Raj based on the Ashok Mehta committee recommendations. The state government passed the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act in 1994, which established a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in the state.
Some of the key features of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act are:
- Reservation of seats for women and Scheduled Castes and Tribes in Panchayat elections.
- Devolution of powers and functions to Panchayats in areas such as health, education, and agriculture.
- Establishment of Gram Sabhas as a forum for people to participate in the