Powers and Functions of Gram Panchayat

The Panchayat Act specifies the functions, powers and duties of the Gram­ Panchayats. A Gram Panchayat shall provide for:

1. Sanitation, conservancy and drainage and the prevention of public nuisances;
2. Curative and preventive measures in respect of any epidemic;
3. Supply of drinking water and disinfecting the sources of supply and storage of water;
4. The maintenance, repair, construction and protection of public streets;
5. The removal of encroachments of public streets or public places;
6. The management and care of public tanks;
7. Organizing voluntary labor for upliftment of its area;
8. The control and administration of the Gram Panchayat Fund;
9. The imposition, assessment and collection of the taxes, rates or fees;
10. The maintenance and control of Dafadars and Chowkidars;
11. Administration of Nyay Panchayat, etc.

Other Functions Assigned by the State Government:

A Gram Panchayat is to perform such functions in respect of:

1)   Primary, social, technical, vocational, adult or non-formal education;

2)   Rural dispensaries, health centers, maternity and child welfare centers ;

3)   Management of any public ferry;

4)   Irrigation;

5)   Grow-more-food campaign;

6)   Rehabilitation of displaced persons;

7)   Improved breeding of cattle;

8)   Bringing waste land under cultivation through land improvement and soil conservation;

9)   Promotion of village plantations, social forestry and farm forestry;

10) Arranging for co-operative management of land;

11) Assisting the implementation of land reform measures;

12) Rural housing programs;

13) Rural electrification;

14) Women and child development;

15) Implementation of such other schemes as entrusted to the Gram Panchayats by the Government, etc.

Discretionary Functions:

A Gram Panchayat may make provision for:

1)   Maintenance of lighting of public streets;

2)   Planting and maintaining of trees on the sides of public streets;

3)   The sinking of wells and excavation of ponds and tanks;

4)   The introduction and promotion of cooperative farming and enterprises;

5)   The construction and regulation of markets;

6)   The promotion and encouragement of cottage, khadi, village and small-scale including food processing industries;

7)   The destruction of rabid or ownerless dogs;

8)   The disposal of unclaimed cattle’s;

9)   The construction and maintenance of dharmasalas, rest houses, cattle sheds and cart sheds;

10) The establishment and maintenance of libraries and reading rooms;

11) Promotion of dairy-farming and poultry;

12) Promotion of fishery;

13) Cultural activities including the sports and games;

14) Social welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded;

15) Welfare of socially and educationally backward classes;

16) Maintenance of community assets, etc.