Panchayat raj institutions

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Additional References

Government sites

1. Government of India site on panchayat raj
2. Panchayat portal of Government of India
3. Government of Karnataka site on panchayat raj

Wikipedia pages

1. Panchayati raj
2. Gram panchayat

=Books on panchayats

1. Book on panchayat by Mahatma Gandhiji

Panchayat Portals=

http://www.panchayats.in

Articles on Panchayats

1. magazine article on Karnataka Panchayat raj

Teaching Outlines

The word "panchayat" literally means "assembly" (ayat) of five (panch) wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. However, there are different forms of assemblies. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages. Modern Indian government has decentralized several administrative functions to the local level, empowering elected gram panchayats

Key Idea #1

What are the key ideas to be covered

Activities

1. Activity No #1 panchayat raj institutions federal structure activity1
2. Activity No #2 panchayat raj institutions federal structure activity2

Key Idea #2 Karnataka experience with panchayat raj

Notes for teachers

Karnataka has taken progressive steps to empower panchayats. The Abdul Nazeer Sab State Institute of Rural Development (ANSSIRD),Mysore has conducted several training programmes to support panchayats. The institution is named after the late Minister for Rural Development, Sri Abdul Nazeer Sab, who worked hard to promote devolution of 'funds, functions and functionaries' to the panchayats.

In many sectors, parallel institutions of local participation, governance and accountability have been set up and gradually, these have also been linked with the panchayats, to make them more democratic. For instance, the 'School Development and Management Committees' setup now are linked to the gram panchayat committe for civic amenities in Karnataka. Initially, these committees were not linked to the panchayats and were seen as 'parallel centres'.

The reservation of seats in panchayats for women, is one important political step towards gender justice in India. While the national law requires 33% reservation, Karnataka is one of those states that have required 50% reservation of women in panchayats.

Activities

1. Activity No #1 panchayat raj institutions karnataka experience activity1
2. Activity No #2 panchayat raj institutions karnataka experience activity2

Key Idea #3 Women in panchayats

The largest number of elected women representatives in the whole world, is in the gram panchayats of India. Has this made any impact on the status of women in society? How are women elected representatives able to present issues relating to women's empowerment / gender justice in the panchayat? Do women members act as rubber stamps of their male relatives? These are some ideas to discuss

Learning objectives

1. Understand the role of elected women representatives in panchayats, their role in supporting gender justice
2. Understand the challenges faced by elected women representatives

Activities

1. Activity No #1 panchayat raj institutions Women in panchayats activity1
2. Activity No #2 panchayat raj institutions Women in panchayats activity2

Project Ideas

Identify case studies of successes and failures of panchayats and write an essay on

Community Based Project

Visit your panchayat.Interview few members and understand their perspectives on local government and rural development. Understand the challenges they face in their work/

Textbook Feedback

already covered in rural development page