Three-tier panchayat system
Also called: Article 243B · Topic: Panchayati Raj: Rural Local Government · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 11 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas"
Meaning
Art. 243B, added by the 73rd Amendment (1992), sets up panchayats at three levels. The gram panchayat works at the village level, the panchayat samiti (intermediate tier) at the block level, and the zila parishad at the district level. All members are directly elected. The chairpersons of the intermediate and district tiers are elected indirectly, meaning by the members. A state with a population of 20 lakh or less may skip only the intermediate tier.
Example
In a large state, a gram panchayat handles village water and roads. The panchayat samiti puts together the plans of its gram panchayats. The zila parishad plans for the whole district. Small states such as Goa and Sikkim have only two tiers.
Don't confuse with
- Ashok Mehta Committee's two tiers (1978): it proposed a zila parishad and mandal panchayats. Part IX made three tiers the rule.
- Skipping the district tier: no state may do this. Only the intermediate tier can be left out, and only in states of 20 lakh people or fewer.
Related concepts
- 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992
- Compulsory and voluntary provisions of the 73rd Amendment
- National Panchayati Raj Day
- Gram sabha
- Mahila sabha