Who Elects the Members of Gram Panchayat?

All the members of the Gram Sabha elect the members of the Gram Panchayat. This article will share interesting insights into the functioning of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat.

Gram Sabha

• In a village, any person, who is above the age of 18 years and is eligible to vote, is a member of the Gram Sabha.
• The meeting of all the adults in an area covered by a Panchayat is known as the Gram Sabha.
• The Gram Sabha meetings are conducted by the Panchayat President and the members of the Panchayat.
• The members of the Panchayat are known as Panchs.
• The President of Panchayat is known as Sarpanch.
• The Gram Sabha keeps a check on the activities of the Gram Panchayat.
• The Secretary of the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat is the same.
• The record of the proceedings of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat are maintained by the Secretary.
• The Secretary is appointed by the government.
• It is the responsibility of the Secretary to convene the meetings of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat.

Gram Panchayat

• Gram means village.
• Every village Panchayat is divided into smaller areas known as wards.
• Every ward will elect a representative. This representative of the ward is known as Panch or Ward member.
• The Panchayat President or the Sarpanch and the Panch members form the Gram Panchayat.
• The Panchayat President is elected by all the members of Gram Sabha.
• The Gram Panchayat is elected for a term of 5 years.

Gram Panchayat – Responsibilities

• The Gram Panchayat has the responsibility of levying and collecting local taxes.
• The Gram Panchayat has the responsibility of implementing government schemes which are related to generation of employment in the village.
• The Gram Panchayat has the responsibility of maintaining and constructing school buildings, drainage, roads, water resources, and other common property resources.

Panchayati Raj – 3 Tier Structure

• There is a uniform 3 tier Panchayati Raj structure in all the states.
• A village or a group of villages is known as Gram Panchayat. Gram Panchayat is the base of the 3 tier structure.
• At the top level of the 3 tier structure is the Zilla Panchayat. Zilla Panchayat covers all the rural areas in a district.
• At the intermediate level of the 3 tier Panchayati Raj structure is the Mandal or Taluka or Block.
• The term of all the 3 tier Panchayati Raj bodies is 5 years.
• One-third of the positions in all panchayat institutions are reserved for women.
• At all 3 levels of the Panchayati Raj institutions, reservations are provided for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Related Links

• Explain Panchayat Raj with levels
• CBSE Notes Class 6 Civics Chapter 5 – Panchayat Raj
• Difference between Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat
• Panchayati Raj – 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act
• Panchayat Finance [UPSC Notes: Polity & Governance]