73rd Constitutional Amendment

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment, passed in 1992, gives constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). It added Part IX to the Constitution, titled 'The Panchayats', aiming to establish local self-government at the village level.

The key provisions include:

• •Three-tier system of Panchayati Raj: Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (intermediate level), and Zilla Parishad (district level).
• •Regular elections to Panchayats every five years.
• •Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in proportion to their population.
• •Reservation of at least one-third of the total seats for women.
• •Establishment of a State Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Panchayats.

The important articles are Part IX of the Constitution (Articles 243 to 243O). These articles define the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats.

Before the 73rd Amendment, Panchayati Raj Institutions existed but lacked uniformity and constitutional backing. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier system. Several committees, including the Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) and the G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985), further emphasized the need for strengthening local self-government. The L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) also contributed to its evolution.

The three-tier system ensures local self-governance at different levels:

• •Gram Panchayat (village level): Deals with village-level issues like sanitation, water supply, and local development projects.
• •Panchayat Samiti (intermediate level): Coordinates activities of Gram Panchayats within a block and implements block-level development schemes.
• •Zilla Parishad (district level): Supervises the activities of Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats in the district and prepares district-level development plans.

The 73rd Amendment is significant because it:

• •Promotes grassroots democracy by empowering local communities.
• •Ensures participation of marginalized sections of society through reservation.
• •Facilitates decentralized planning and development.
• •Enhances accountability and transparency in governance at the local level.

Some limitations include:

• •Inadequate devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries (3Fs) to Panchayats.
• •Lack of capacity building and training of Panchayat representatives.
• •Social barriers such as caste and gender discrimination.
• •Limited awareness among citizens about their rights and responsibilities.

Challenges include:

• •Resistance from state governments to devolve powers to Panchayats.
• •Corruption and lack of transparency in the functioning of Panchayats.
• •Lack of coordination between different levels of government.
• •Dominance of local elites in Panchayat governance.

Suggested reforms include:

• •Ensuring timely and adequate devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries.
• •Strengthening the capacity building and training of Panchayat representatives.
• •Promoting social audit and citizen participation.
• •Enhancing transparency and accountability through e-governance.

The State Finance Commission reviews the financial position of the Panchayats and recommends measures to improve their financial resources. This includes suggesting ways for Panchayats to generate more revenue and receive adequate funds from the state government.

The 73rd Amendment reserves at least one-third of the total seats in Panchayats for women. This provision aims to empower women and ensure their active participation in local governance.

Recent developments include:

• •Increased focus on e-governance and digital empowerment of Panchayats (2020s).
• •Initiatives to improve the financial autonomy of Panchayats through increased revenue generation.
• •Greater emphasis on capacity building and training of Panchayat representatives.