Page 182 - SST Class 06

Optional Functions : In addition to the essential Nyaya Panchayat
functions, the Gram Panchayat also performs
certain functions which are not essential, but it
does them in order to look after the welfare of the
people. These include management of veterinary
centres for treatment of cattle; management of
hospitals and maternity centres; management of
village markets and village fairs; organisation and
management of recreational, cultural and
entertainment programmes; supply of good quality
seeds and fertilizers etc.
A hand-pump Street light A public toilet
Sources of Income : The two chief sources of
income for a Gram Panchayat are taxes and
grants. A Gram Panchayat collects taxes on
houses, shops, fairs, markets, sale and purchase of
property and cattle etc. This income is not
sufficient to meet its needs, so it has to depend on
the state government for grants. The state
government provides annual grants to a Gram
Panchayat for its proper functioning.
The records of income and expenditure of the
Gram Panchayat are presented to the Gram Sabha
for approval.
A primary health centre A village fair
Panchayat Secretary : The Panchayat Secretary is
a government employee who is given a salary. He
maintains records and registers of the Gram
Panchayat, including those pertaining to the
income and expenditure. Depending on the size
of the Gram Panchayat, he can work for two or
more villages.
Contemporary Social Science-6
182
A Nyaya Panchayat is like a local court. It has
jurisdiction over two-three villages. Its chief
function is to settle dispute arising among
villagers. It forms an important part of the
Panchayati Raj because it provides speedy and
inexpensive justice to villagers and saves them
from running to the courts of law and undergoing
lengthy procedures of justice there. The procedure
at a Nyaya Panchayat is simple as there are no
lawyers. Generally, the cases are resolved
amicably by mutual consent. The Nyaya
Panchayat can deal with petty civil cases and
minor criminal cases, but it cannot send a person
to jail. However, it has powers to impose a fine on
an individual.
A Nyaya Panchayat meeting Village women casting vote
In case an individual feels that he has not been
given justice, he can go to the regular courts of
law with an appeal.
The members of a Nyaya Panchayat are elected by
the members of the concerned Gram Panchayats,
but no person can be a member of both Gram
Panchayat and Nyaya Panchayat.
Block Samiti
There are many projects which can be too big for
a single village to handle, for example,
construction of a secondary school or hospital,
digging of a canal, construction of road or
waterways etc. In such a situation, it becomes
necessary that some villages join hands in order to
materialise their needs.
Info Bits
Info Bits
Shramdan (doing labour for free) has been a very
important feature of the rural life which has helped
to construct roads, plant trees and repair
waterways. In this, the villagers join hands to do