What is a Village Panchayat? Describe the features of Village Panchayat.
Introduction of Village Panchayat.
On the Indian subcontinent, this is the oldest system of municipal governance. The term panchayat refers to the “assembly” (ayat) of five (panch) knowledgeable and respected elders who have been selected and approved by the community. These gatherings were traditionally used to resolve conflicts between people and villages.
Definition of Village Panchayat
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Mahatma Gandhi once stated: “The Panchayat is the heart of village self-rule, enabling villagers to manage their own affairs and fostering the spirit of Swaraj (self-rule) at the grassroots level.”
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Balwant Rai Mehta (Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1957):“The foundation of democratic decentralization and a unit of rural self-government, entrusted with local development and welfare.”
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B.R. Ambedkar: “A Village Panchayat is an institution of self-governance, but in order to ensure equity and justice, it must operate within the constitutional framework.”
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L.M. Singhvi (Singhvi Committee, 1986):“The Village Panchayat is a constitutional body for participatory democracy, tasked with decision-making and the implementation of socio-economic development programs at the village level.”
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R. L. Kaushik: “A local institution that embodies grassroots democracy and serves as an instrument for both governance and development.”
- A decentralized unit of governance that involves the community in planning and execution to manage and develop rural areas, according to D.D. Basu.
- A democratic institution that empowers the rural populace, guarantees their involvement in governance, and attends to their developmental needs, according to S.R. Maheshwari.