Panchayati Raj of Gujarat | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Panchayati Raj System in Gujarat

• Villages have historically played a significant role in both social and economic activities, with the concept of the "Gram" (village) being a fundamental unit since ancient times. Today, a large portion of the population still resides in rural areas. Mahatma Gandhi envisioned the village as a unit for "Gram Swaraj," meaning complete independence for fulfilling one's needs while maintaining mutual dependence as self-sufficient republics.
• Panchayati Raj was established in Gujarat as a key measure for decentralization from the outset. It is implemented with clear policies to ensure broad community participation in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system and contributing to the development efforts of the government. The Gujarat Panchayat Act of 1993, which adheres to the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution, governs the management and oversight of Panchayati Raj in the state.
• Gujarat's Panchayati Raj system operates on a three-tier structure:
  • Gram Panchayat
  • Taluka Panchayat
  • District Panchayat
• The state has 33 District Panchayats, 247 Taluka Panchayats, and 14,017 Gram Panchayats, with a total of 18,584 revenue villages.

An outline of functions

Functions of the Three-Tier Panchayat Structure in Gujarat are:

Gram Panchayat

• Provides drinking water facilities for domestic use and animals.
• Manages road scavenging within villages.
• Maintains government properties.
• Arranges village lighting.
• Promotes education, including primary education in villages.
• Plans rural development initiatives.
• Oversees crops in the village outskirts.
• Plans and implements agricultural improvements and reforms.

Taluka Panchayat

• Provides health and hygiene services within talukas.
• Controls epidemics.
• Oversees the construction and maintenance of village roads.
• Establishes and manages primary schools.

District Panchayat

• Supervises and provides assistance to the activities of District Panchayats, Taluka Panchayats, and Gram Panchayats.
• Manages and controls activities transferred from state departments including revenue, education, cooperation, irrigation, cattle breeding, and agriculture.
• Oversees the activities of the Panchayat Department at the district level.

Participation of panchayatati Raj non-governmental organization in Gujarat

• The term "panchayat" can be broken down into two parts: "panch," meaning five in both Sanskrit and Gujarati. This concept has been a popular and longstanding unit of governance, dating back to the Vedic period. It is believed that King Pruthu introduced the panchayat system during the early settlements between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
• During the British rule, efforts to establish panchayats were limited. The Royal Commission on Decentralization in 1907 noted that villages had historically enjoyed significant autonomy. During the national movement, there were strong calls for local self-government, with leaders advocating for elections at all levels and sufficient government support.
• The implementation of democratic decentralization, as recommended by the Balvantray Mehta study group, marked the beginning of Panchayati Raj in Gujarat. Subsequent recommendations by various committees helped to further refine and implement the system. Following the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, the Gujarat Panchayats Act of 1993 was enacted, establishing the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Gujarat.

Development Machinery

• Following the implementation of Panchayati Raj in Gujarat and the introduction of democratic decentralization, significant efforts were made to establish Panchayati Raj as a crucial tool for rural development. The aim was to strengthen and empower the Panchayati Raj system. 
• The machinery involved in these rural development programs is referred to as developmental administration. This includes the necessary structural organization and attitudes required for implementing development administrative schemes and social and economic change programs undertaken by the government.