Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommendations Panchayati Raj
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Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) was the first committee that recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralization’ which ultimately came to be known as Panchayati Raj.
Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj. It was inaugurated in 1959 in Nagaur district. Rajasthan was followed by Andhra Pradesh, which also adopted the system in 1959.
Some of the major recommendations made by the committee are:
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Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati raj system
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The village Panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives, whereas the Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members
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All planning and developmental activities should be entrusted to these bodies.
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The Panchayat Samiti should be the executive body while the Zilla Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating and supervisory body.
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The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zilla Parishad.
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There should be a genuine transfer of power and responsibility to these democratic bodies.
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Sufficient resources should be transferred to these bodies to enable them to discharge their functions and fulfil their responsibilities.
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A system should be evolved to effect further devolution of authority in future.
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Irrespective of political parties, elections has to be constituted for every 5 years in a genuine way.
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