Gram Panchayat
The Panchayat Act specifies the functions, powers and duties of the Gram Panchayats. A Gram Panchayat shall provide for:
Sanitation, conservancy and drainage and the prevention of public nuisances;
Curative and preventive measures in respect of any epidemic;
Supply of drinking water and disinfecting the sources of supply and storage of water;
The maintenance, repair, construction and protection of public streets;
The removal of encroachments of public streets or public places;
The management and care of public tanks;
Organizing voluntary labor for upliftment of its area;
The control and administration of the Gram Panchayat Fund;
The imposition, assessment and collection of the taxes, rates or fees;
The maintenance and control of Dafadars and Chowkidars;
Administration of Nyay Panchayat, etc.
Other Functions Assigned by the State Government:
A Gram Panchayat is to perform such functions in respect of:
1) Primary, social, technical, vocational, adult or non-formal education;
2) Rural dispensaries, health centers, maternity and child welfare centers ;
3) Management of any public ferry;
4) Irrigation;
5) Grow-more-food campaign;
6) Rehabilitation of displaced persons;
7) Improved breeding of cattle;
8) Bringing waste land under cultivation through land improvement and soil conservation;
9) Promotion of village plantations, social forestry and farm forestry;
10) Arranging for co-operative management of land;
11) Assisting the implementation of land reform measures;
12) Rural housing programs;
13) Rural electrification;
14) Women and child development;
15) Implementation of such other schemes as entrusted to the Gram Panchayats by the Government, etc.
Discretionary Functions:
A Gram Panchayat may make provision for:
1) Maintenance of lighting of public streets;
2) Planting and maintaining of trees on the sides of public streets;
3) The sinking of wells and excavation of ponds and tanks;
4) The introduction and promotion of cooperative farming and enterprises;
5) The construction and regulation of markets;
6) The promotion and encouragement of cottage, khadi, village and small-scale including food processing industries;
7) The destruction of rabid or ownerless dogs;
8) The disposal of unclaimed cattle’s;
9) The construction and maintenance of dharmasalas, rest houses, cattle sheds and cart sheds;
10) The establishment and maintenance of libraries and reading rooms;
11) Promotion of dairy-farming and poultry;
12) Promotion of fishery;
13) Cultural activities including the sports and games;
14) Social welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded;
15) Welfare of socially and educationally backward classes;
16) Maintenance of community assets, etc.
