PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS (PRI)

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 PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS (PRI)

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• PRIs: In India, the Panchayati Raj Institutions refer to the local self-government bodies introduced by a constitutional amendment in 1992. The Panchayati Raj system was formalized in 1992, for decentralized administration. 
• 73rd Amendment: The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Nagaur district on in 1959. Then came Andhra Pradesh. The 73rd Constitutional amendment in 1992 gave a strong footing to the PRIs. It came into force in 1993.
• Three levels in PRIs: The Panchayati Raj functions as a system with gram panchayats as the basic units of local administration. The system has three levels: 1-Gram Panchayat (village level), 2-Mandal Parishad or Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti (block level), and 3-Zila Parishad (district level). Currently, the Panchayati Raj system exists in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, and n Territories except Delhi.
• PART -XI - THE PANCHAYATS
• Article – 243
• Definitions
• In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. “district” means a district in a State;
2. “Gram Sabha” means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level;
3. “intermediate level” means a level between the village and district levels specified by the Governor of a State by public notification to be the intermediate level for the purposes of this Part;
4. “Panchayat” means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government constituted under article 243B, for the rural areas;
5. “Panchayat area” means the territorial area of a Panchayat;
6. “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published;
7. “village” means a village specified by the Governor by public notification to be a village for the purposes of this Part and includes a group of villages so specified.

• Article – 243 A
• Gram Sabha 
• A Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
• Article – 243 B
• Constitution of Panchayats

1. There shall be constituted in every State, Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
2. Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs.

• Article – 243 G
• Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats.
• Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level, subject to such
• conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to—

1. the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
2. the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.

• ELEVENTH SCHEDULE – ARTICLE 243G
• RURAL LOCAL BODIES

1. Agriculture, including agricultural extension 
2. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation 
3. Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development 
4. Animal husbandry, dairying and poultry 
5. Fisheries 
6. Social forestry and farm forestry 
7. Minor forest produce 
8. Small scale industries, including food processing industries 
9. Khadi, village and cottage industries 
10. Rural housing 
11. Drinking water 
12. Fuel and fodder 
13. Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication 
14. Rural electrification, including distribution of  electricity 
15. Non-conventional energy sources 
16. Poverty alleviation programme 
17. Education, including primary and secondary schools 
18. Technical training and vocational education 
19. Adult and non-formal education 
20. Libraries 
21. Cultural activities 
22. Markets and fairs 
23. Health and sanitation, including hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries 
24. Family welfare 
25. Women and child development 
26. Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded 
27. Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes 
28. Public distribution system 
29. Maintenance of community assets 

• Women’s reservations: In 2009, the Union Government approved 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI). Bihar was the first state to reserve 50% seats for women.
• Funding for Panchayats: The Panchayats receive funds from three sources:

1. Local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission
2. Funds for implementation of centrally sponsored schemes
3. Funds released by the state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions

• National Panchayati Raj Day: The National Local Self-Government day is the national day of Panchayati Raj System in India celebrated by Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April annually.
• How many Panchayats: There are 2.5 lakh Panchayats in India today. The concerned ministry is the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Three tiers of government: India is a federal republic with three government tiers: 1-Central (union), 2-State and 3-Local. The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments give recognition and protection to local governments and in addition each state has its own local government legislation.
• Present challenges for PRIs: Irregular elections, lack of funds devolution in time, poor capabilities, etc. are key challenges.
• PANCHAYAT EMPOWERMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY INCENTIVE SCHEME (PEAIS)
• What it is: The Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) is a Central Sector Plan Scheme aimed at (i) incentivization of States  for devolving funds, functions and functionaries (3Fs) to Panchayats and (ii) incentivization of Panchayats to put in place accountability systems to make their functioning transparent and efficient. The scheme is 100% centrally funded.
• Details: Under PEAIS, State Governments/UTs are ranked on a Devolution Index which measures the extent of devolution of 3Fs by States to Panchayats. States are ranked on the DI, and since 2011-12, best performing Panchayats in the country have been incentivized.

1. The assessment of States along the DI follows a two stage process. The States that fulfill mandatory provisions of the Constitution qualify for further assessment on the extent of devolution. 
2. Indicators related to social audit have been included in the State level study as well as the model Panchayat level indicators.
3. Every year model indicators and questionnaire have been refined by the Ministry.

• Background: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is responsible for the work of advocacy, monitoring and implementation of Constitution 73rd Amendment. The role of the MoPR involves strengthening the administrative infrastructure, basic services etc. by leveraging technology and capacity building of the functionaries of Rural Local Body (RLB). The Ministry’s roadmap to realise the above objective is through three pillars:

1. Provision of basic services through the Finance Commission Funding, 
2. Capacity building of RLBs through Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and 
3. Convergent & holistic planning through inclusive & participatory process through Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and advocacy work.

• 14th FC grants: The Fourteenth Finance Commission recommended grants were – 

1. Basic Grants – From 2015-16 to 2019-20 – allocation Rs.1.8 trillion, sanctioned Rs.1.66 trillion
2. Performance Grants – From 2015-16 to 2019-20 – allocation Rs.20000 cr, sanctioned Rs.5000 cr
3. Ministry monitors the effective utilization of FFC Grants by the GPs through Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Around 5.5 Lakhs assets created by using FFC grants in GPs have been geo-tagged as on today to give thrust on digital monitoring system.

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