Who plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected represent...
Anyone living in the area, who is an adult, that is 18 years old or more, is a member of Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha members also elect the representatives to the Gram Panchayat. Together the Sarpanch and Panchs form a Gram Panchayat. A Gram Panchayat is elected for five years.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all UPSC courses
Who plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected represent...
In the context of elected representatives, the Gram Sabha plays an important role in keeping an eye on them and making them responsible to the persons who elected them.
The Gram Sabha is a village-level democratic institution in India that comprises all the adult members of a village. It acts as a platform for the villagers to participate in decision-making processes and exercise their democratic rights. The Gram Sabha holds regular meetings where issues related to the village's development, governance, and welfare are discussed.
Here is how the Gram Sabha fulfills its role in keeping an eye on elected representatives and making them accountable:
1. Participatory Democracy: The Gram Sabha ensures participatory democracy by providing a platform for villagers to voice their opinions and concerns. It gives them an opportunity to directly interact with their elected representatives and hold them accountable for their actions.
2. Mandate and Authority: The Gram Sabha has the mandate and authority to monitor the functioning of elected representatives. It can question them about their performance, implementation of developmental projects, utilization of funds, and other responsibilities entrusted to them.
3. Transparency and Accountability: The Gram Sabha promotes transparency and accountability in governance. It can demand information regarding the decisions taken by elected representatives, the allocation of resources, and the progress of ongoing projects. This helps in preventing corruption, ensuring proper utilization of resources, and holding representatives accountable for their actions.
4. Social Audit: The Gram Sabha can conduct social audits to review the implementation of government schemes and projects. It can assess whether the benefits are reaching the intended beneficiaries and whether the elected representatives are effectively executing their responsibilities.
5. Resolving Grievances: The Gram Sabha acts as a platform for villagers to raise their grievances related to public services, infrastructure, or any other matter affecting their lives. It can demand immediate action from elected representatives to address these grievances and ensure timely resolution.
6. Oversight and Feedback: The Gram Sabha plays a crucial role in oversight and feedback. It can assess the performance of elected representatives, provide feedback on their work, and suggest improvements or changes. This feedback can help elected representatives to better understand the needs and aspirations of the people they represent.
In conclusion, the Gram Sabha plays a significant role in keeping an eye on elected representatives and making them responsible to the persons who elected them. It ensures participatory democracy, transparency, accountability, and provides a platform for villagers to raise their concerns and grievances. Through its oversight and feedback mechanisms, the Gram Sabha contributes to the effective functioning of elected representatives and strengthens the democratic fabric of the village community.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.