Let’s Discuss National Panchayati Raj Day India

The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on April 24th to celebrate the advent of decentralization in India. The day celebrates the 73rd amendment to the constitution, which instituted a three-layer decentralized system of governance on a regional level. The National Panchayati Raj Day was first celebrated in 2010 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

National Panchayati Day is celebrated every year to provide an opportunity for dialogue between Panchayati Raj representatives to gain knowledge of the common problems found in Panchayats across the country. The day also marks award ceremonies for appreciating the efforts and motivating them to improve their respective panchayats. There are no particular themes for National Panchayati Raj Day every year but the best-performing panchayats across the country as recognition for improving rural public life. National Panchayati Raj Day 2022 will be celebrated with full joy and confidence.

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Why is National Panchayati Raj Day Celebrated?

The National Panchayati Raj Day was first celebrated in 2010 to commemorate the day when India began decentralization through the Panchayati Raj system. The Panchayati Raj system was introduced through the 73rd amendment to the Constitution on 24th April 1993. The Panchayati Raj institution was introduced to implement true democracy at the grass-root level and provide more power to the rural public in government affairs. These institutions were constituted for rural development.

National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated to appreciate the works done by these institutions in bringing about change to the rural governance across India and helping eradicate the social evils in rural areas. National Panchayati Raj Day is also celebrated to bring together the representatives of different panchayats from all over India and create a direct dialogue with the Prime Minister.

What Happens on National Panchayati Raj Day?

There is no explicit theme for National Panchayati Raj Day in India, but an award ceremony appreciates the best panchayats across the country. These awards are a way of recognition for the work done by these panchayats in improving the lives of rural households.

The awards are given under five categories:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Purushkar.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Purushkar.
• Child-friendly Panchayat Award
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award
• e-Panchayat Purushkar

For the first time in history, the prize money was transferred directly into the accounts of the panchayats concerned in 2021. 

What is Panchayati Raj?

Panchayati Raj is a system of self-governance found in the villages of rural parts of India and is different from the municipalities located in urban towns. It is a three-layer system of administration that has precise control over the villages. The Panchayati Raj system was made for increasing rural development and is present in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram. It is also present in all union territories except Delhi. The Panchayati Raj system is also not currently in some other regions.

The Panchayati Raj system was initially mentioned in the constitution by Article 40, which instructed states to establish local governance systems at a rural level called panchayats. However, it was seen that complete local self-government was not achieved as the states still had control over the panchayats. The government appointed several committees to oversee the working of self-government and suggest any changes necessary to make the system more effective.

The Balwant Rai Committee was set up in 1957 and was meant to scrutinise the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service.  This committee was the one to suggest a local government that was based on democratic principles and has different powers. It suggested a three-tier system consisting of a Gram Panchayat, a Panchayat Samiti and a Zila Parishad with directly elected representatives serving in the gram panchayat and indirectly elected representatives serving Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad. 

Different committees suggested other changes to the system. 

The current Panchayati Raj system was enacted through the 73rd amendment and its main features are:

• Gram Sabha: It is the primary governing body in the Panchayati Raj system and consists of all the voters of that panchayat area. The powers and functions of this level are defined by the state legislature. 
• Three-Tier System: The Act also mentions establishing a three-tier system of self-governance consisting of village, intermediate and district level. The states with fewer than 20 lakhs can opt to have no intermediary level present. 
• Election of Members: The members to every tier of the Panchayati Raj system are directly elected, and the members indirectly elect the chairpersons of intermediate and district level. The state government elects the chairperson at the village level.
• Reservation of Seats: The reservation of seats in the Panchayati Raj system is provided according to categories. For SC and ST, the reservation will be provided according to their percentage in the population. 1/3rd of all seats is reserved for women, and not less than 1/3rd of chairperson posts should be reserved for women. 

It is up to the state to decide if any further reservations shall be provided to the backward classes.

• Duration of Panchayat: All levels of the Panchayat have a term of five years. There is an option of dissolution of the panchayat offices if the voter is dissatisfied with its performance. However, if any panchayat level is disbanded before the termination of its tenure, fresh elections shall happen within six months of dissolution.
• State Election Commission: All the elections for the Panchayat will be conducted under the control and supervision of the state election commission, and the state legislature will be able to make any provisions found necessary for the elections to Panchayats.

Why is The Panchayati Raj System Important?

Panchayati Raj Institutions are essential parts of governance in India and help in accelerating development in all sectors across the rural areas of India. 

• Increase Public Participation: The Panchayati Raj system involves Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate level and Zila Parishad at the district level. This system promotes democratic participation and cooperation between the locals for choosing their representatives.

• Local Planning: The 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats spread across the country promote planning at the regional level for more efficient and effective development. The Gram Panchayats across India have been trusted with providing economic development to their respective villages.

The development work plans for these gram panchayats are discussed by the Gram Sabha as the Gram Panchayat Development Plan, and the representatives of Gram Panchayats are held responsible for following it.

• A Promise of Good Governance: The two factors of a good government are fair consensus and public participation, the PRIs ensure both of them. 

The Panchayati Raj is one of the most significant changes brought in the government structure of India and provides power to the people at the grass-root level. The Panchayati Raj institutions are essential for developing rural areas and giving control to the local self-governance.

These institutions are instrumental in ensuring that true democratic principles are followed at the local level as well.

Conclusion

The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated each year on 24th April since 2010, and it is dedicated to the advent of Panchayati Raj Institutions present in the rural areas across India to implement true democracy and give power to the public. Panchayati Raj is an integral part of the Indian legislature, and it is responsible for the overall development of rural areas.