Local self-government Haryana

The evolution of local self-government in modern India is centered around the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992, which conferred constitutional status to Panchayati Raj and Municipalities, respectively. These amendments established a clear and structured framework for governance at the grassroots level, enhancing democracy through the direct participation of people in governance.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the historical context and evolution of local self-governance in India.
2. Grasp the structure and functions of the three-tier Panchayati Raj System.
3. Recognize the roles of Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad.
4. Learn the amendments and regulations governing local self-government in Haryana.

Local Self-Government in India

India has a dual structure of local self-government: rural and urban. In rural areas, the Panchayati Raj system operates, while municipalities manage urban regions.

1. Ancient Origins: Elected local bodies like Sabhas and Samitis have existed since ancient times, especially during the Chola period.
2. Post-Independence Reforms: The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) played a key role in shaping the modern three-tier Panchayati Raj System, which was first implemented in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district in 1959.
3. Constitutional Amendments: The 73rd and 74th Amendments of 1992 provided a legal framework for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and municipalities. They introduced Schedules 11 and 12 to the Constitution, listing specific responsibilities for these bodies.

Panchayati Raj in Haryana

Haryana adopted the Three-Tier Panchayati Raj System in 1966, soon after its formation as a separate state. The system was improved through the Mandu Singh Malik Samiti, which recommended the dissolution of the Zila Parishad. This recommendation was implemented in 1973. The local elections in Haryana are managed by the Haryana State Election Commission.

The three levels of Panchayati Raj in Haryana are:

1. Gram Panchayat: The lowest tier, responsible for the governance of one or more villages.
2. Panchayat Samiti: The intermediate body, overseeing multiple Gram Panchayats within a block.
3. Zila Parishad: The highest rural governance body at the district level.

Gram Panchayat

The Gram Panchayat is the foundation of local self-government in rural areas.

1. Structure: The Gram Panchayat is headed by a Sarpanch and is composed of members elected from different wards.
2. Income: The Panchayat’s income is sourced from grants-in-aid from the government, supplemented by its own revenue streams.
3. Components: The Gram Panchayat consists of the Gram Sabha, Panchayat, and Nyaya Panchayat.

• Gram Sabha: All villagers who are over 18 years and whose names appear on the electoral rolls are members of the Gram Sabha.
• Panchayat: The Panchayat is responsible for various administrative duties and consists of a Sarpanch and other members.
• Nyaya Panchayat: Focused on addressing local disputes but lacks the authority to imprison individuals.

Panchayat Samiti

The Panchayat Samiti, also referred to as Block Samiti or Kshetra Samiti, serves as the second tier in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.

1. Composition: It includes representatives from Gram Panchayats, elected members, and women and members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It is led by a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, with the Block Development Officer as the administrative head.
2. Functions: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for coordinating development projects across villages within the block and managing the allocation and utilization of funds.

Zila Parishad

At the district level, the Zila Parishad forms the highest tier in the Panchayati Raj system.

1. Composition: It consists of directly elected representatives, Chairmen of Panchayat Samitis, and members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly and the House of People.
2. Administration: The Zila Parishad is managed by the Director of Development and Panchayat, with District Development and Panchayat Officers (DDPOs) and Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) supporting the administration.
3. Responsibilities: It oversees and implements developmental programs at the district level.

Haryana Panchayati Raj Act

Before the enactment of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the state operated under the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952 and the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1952.

1. Changes in 1971: Haryana’s then Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, amended the act to allow Panchs to elect the Sarpanch.
2. Further Amendments: Successive governments, including those led by Chaudhary Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal, made additional changes, such as returning the election of the Sarpanch to the voters and reducing the Panchayat’s tenure.

The Haryana Panchayati Raj Act of 1994 introduced significant reforms, including:

1. Constitutional Alignment: The act complied with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, extending the Panchayati Raj system to all of Haryana.
2. Administrative Structure: The act introduced the creation of committees like the General Committee, Finance, Audit, and Planning Committees, and the Social Justice Committee.
3. Elections and Representation: It outlined the preparation of electoral rolls for Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads by the State Election Commission.

Reservation in Panchayats

The Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, mandates reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and women at all three tiers.

1. Reserved Seats: One-third of the seats in Panchayats, including those for Scheduled Castes, must be reserved for women. Additionally, seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes proportional to their population in the area.
2. Rotational Allotment: The reserved seats rotate among constituencies through a lottery system.
3. Reservation for Sarpanch: The post of Sarpanch is also reserved for women and Scheduled Castes based on population ratios.

Panchayati Raj Amendment Act, 2015

In 2015, Haryana made significant amendments to its Panchayati Raj laws to empower Gram Panchayats.

1. Educational Qualifications: Candidates running for positions in Panchayati Raj institutions were required to have minimum educational qualifications, with variations for women and Scheduled Caste candidates.
2. Disqualifications: Individuals with criminal charges, outstanding loans, or electricity bills and those without functional toilets were barred from contesting elections.
3. Electronic Voting: Haryana became the first state in India to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for Panchayat elections.

Important Note: The introduction of educational qualifications as a criterion for contesting elections has set a unique precedent in Indian local governance.

Powers and Responsibilities of Panchayats

Haryana Panchayats hold significant authority in rural administration.

1. Anganwadi Centers: Panchayats oversee the functioning of Anganwadi centers and state-run primary schools.
2. Public Distribution System: They supervise the Public Distribution System and manage the distribution of Ration Cards.
3. Developmental Plans: Panchayats are responsible for preparing annual development plans and budgets. They also play a crucial role in organizing sports competitions and other community activities.
4. Water Conservation: Panchayats manage water conservation projects, particularly in groundwater-rich regions.
5. Revenue: Panchayats receive a portion of stamp duty, registration fees, and a percentage of the income from animal fairs.

Important Concept: The State Finance Commission recommends financial allocations for Panchayats, ensuring that these bodies have sufficient funds for development.

Gram Vikas Samiti

To promote transparency and enhance rural development, the Gram Vikas Samiti was established.

1. Formation: Created in 1992, it is chaired by the Sarpanch and includes members from Scheduled Castes, women, and ex-servicemen.
2. Functions: It manages funds from the government for developmental projects like adult education programs, drought management, and community development.
3. Fund Management: Funds are deposited into the Village Development Fund, managed by the S

arpanch and members of the committee.

Haryana’s Municipal System

Urban local self-government in Haryana is governed by the Haryana Municipality Act, 1973 and the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. The 74th Constitutional Amendment introduced urban local governance in India.

The urban areas of Haryana are divided into three categories:

1. Municipal Committee: Manages urban areas with a population between 20,000 and 300,000.
2. Municipal Council: Administers cities with populations ranging from 300,000 to 1,000,000.
3. Municipal Corporation: Governs cities with populations exceeding 1,000,000. There are 10 municipal corporations in Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, and Hisar.

The Haryana Municipal Amendment Bill of 2016 introduced educational qualifications for candidates contesting municipal elections, similar to the rules for Panchayati Raj elections.

Important Concept: The amendment also barred candidates with criminal charges, loan defaults, and outstanding electricity bills from contesting.

Awards for Panchayats

To incentivize and recognize outstanding work, the Haryana government offers several awards to Gram Panchayats.

1. Best Performing Panchayat Award: Awarded to the top-performing village in each district.
2. Chaudhary Devi Lal Award: A prestigious award for the best-performing Gram Panchayat in Haryana.
3. Cleanest Village Award: A cash prize awarded to villages achieving open defecation-free status.
4. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar: Awarded to Panchayats demonstrating excellent performance in governance.

Recent Developments in Panchayati Raj

In recent years, Haryana has introduced new policies and projects to strengthen local governance.

1. Garvit Grameen Yojana: Launched in 2015, this scheme aims to provide self-employment opportunities to educated rural youth by offering free skill development training.
2. Swa-Prerit Adarsh Gram Yojana: The Sui village in Bhiwani district was the first village to be recognized under this scheme for self-driven development.
3. Water Conservation and Harvesting: Haryana’s Water Conservation Scheme focuses on conserving water and improving groundwater levels in rural areas.

Note: These initiatives aim to uplift rural areas by improving infrastructure, employment opportunities, and sustainable resource management.

MCQ

Which Amendment Act gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj in India?

1. 42nd Amendment Act
2. 52nd Amendment Act
3. 73rd Amendment Act
4. 74th Amendment Act
   Answer: 3. 73rd Amendment Act