G.V.K. Rao Committee
Topic: Panchayati Raj: Rural Local Government · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) studied how rural development was being run. It found that development had become bureaucratic, meaning it was run by officials. Panchayats had been pushed aside and become "grass without roots". It wanted the district to be the basic unit for planning, with an elected zila parishad at its head. It is one of the committees that led to the 73rd Amendment.
Example
The committee's phrase "grass without roots" described panchayats that existed on paper but had no real power. Development programmes were run by officials instead of elected local bodies.
Don't confuse with
- L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): it focused on constitutional recognition, more money and nyaya panchayats (village courts). G.V.K. Rao focused on bureaucratisation and planning at the district level.
Related concepts
- Ashok Mehta Committee
- L.M. Singhvi Committee
- P.K. Thungon Committee
- Gadgil Committee
- Constitution (64th Amendment) Bill 1989