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  • 14/07/2000

Gram Sabha (rural areas) / municipal ward (urban areas) A miniature planning commission at the ward level. All voters are members. It identifies people's needs in open meetings as well as the beneficiaries of development projects. It has absulute power over 14 sectors including agriculture, drinking water and irrigation. Small neighbourhood groups are formed for each sector. The groups list the needs of people on their respective sector.

Development Council Two representatives (one man and one woman) from each neigbourhood group of each ward form this body. It discusses priorities set by the Gram Sabha and makes its own list of priorities after considering the funds available and the broad guidelines of the state government. It can seek technical assistance from government officials and non-governmental agencies.

gram panchayat (rural areas) / municipal council (urban areas) One member is elected from each ward to the panchayat /council. Here, all proposals are discussed, debated and finalised and money is sanctioned.

beneficiary committee Once a proposal is sanctioned by the Gram Panchayat , the Gram Sabha forms a committee of beneficiaries of each project. It executes and monitors the projects. Eliminates contractors and corruption. It also decides on the community's contribution to the project.

Resource persons To help facilitate the planning process retired government officials, voluntary participants and civil society representatives are mobilised. Thet participate at three levels: Gram Panchayat , district and state.

state-level coordination committee for decentralised planning Headed by the minister for local administration, this committee gets feedback from the panchayats on the administrative hurdles in planning and execution. It meets every week and to redress grievances.

state administrative reforms committee This looks after all administrative reforms. It specially focuses on the decentralisation process. Headed by the chief minister, it has been instrumental in at least 30 amendments to the existing acts, all pertaining to devolution of power to local bodies.

People's plan cell A wing of the State Planning Board specially created for monitoring the decentralisation process and to create awareness among the people about their rights under Panchayati Raj . Also looks after policy decisions pertaining to decentralisation.

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