CBSE Notes For Class 6 Civics Chapter 4 Panchayati Raj

CBSE Notes For Class 6 Civics Social Science Chapter 4 Panchayati Raj

Three Levels Of Panchayats

In rural areas, there are three levels of Panchayats. These are

1. Village Level The first level or tier of democratic government is the Gram Panchayat at the village level. Gram Sabha is an important part of the Gram Panchayat as the Panchs and the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha.
2. Block Level The second level or tier is the Block level, which has many Gram Panchayats under it. It is also known as the Janpad Panchayat or the Panchayat Samiti1.
3.  District Level The third level is the Zila Parishad or the District Panchayat. The Zila Parishad makes developmental plans at the district level. It also regulates the distribution of funds among all the Gram Panchayats with the help of Panchayat Samitis.

CBSE Notes For Class 6 Civics Chapter 4 The Gram Panchayat

• Gram Panchayat is a basic governing institution in Indian villages. Every village Panchayat is divided into wards, i.e. smaller areas. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member (Panch).
• The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch is the Panchayat President who is elected by all the members of the Gram Sabha.
• The Gram Panchayat is elected for five years. The Gram Panchayat meets regularly and one of its main works is to implement development programs for all villages that come under it.
• The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha. This person is not elected but appointed by the government.
• The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings.

Gram Sabha:  The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by a Panchayat.

• This area could include only one village or more than one village. Anyone who is 18 years old or more and who has the right to vote, is a member of the Gram Sabha.
• The first meeting of the Gram Sabha is held after the election of the new Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is the place where all plans for the work of Gram Panchayat are laid down before the people.
• The Gram Sabha prevents the Panchayat from doing wrong things like misusing money or favoring certain people. It plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected representatives and in making them responsible to the persons who elected them.

Work Of Gram Panchayat:  The work of the Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the Gram Sabha.

• In some states, committees like construction and development committees are formed by Gram Sabhas.
• These include some members of the Gram Sabha and some from the Gram Panchayat who work together to carry out specific tasks.

The work of a Gram Panchayat includes

• Construction and maintenance of water roads, drainage, school buildings, and other common property resources.
• Levying and collecting local taxes.
• Executing government schemes related to generating employment in the village.
• It is responsible for collecting information about any development works or schemes that could be implemented in the Panchayat. To obtain this information, the Gram Panchayat can approach the Block Development Officer.

Sources of Funds for the Panchayat:  Collection of taxes on houses, marketplaces, etc.

• Government scheme funds are received through various departments of the government through the Janpad and Zila Panchayat.
• Donations for community works, etc.