The document summarizes the Panchayati Raj system of local governance in Assam, India. It outlines the three-tier structure of governance at the village (Gram Panchayat), block (Anchalik Panchayat), and district (Zilla Parishad) levels. Key functions devolved to each tier include agriculture, irrigation, education, health, and other infrastructure development areas. Planning follows a bottom-up approach from village to district level. Gram Sabhas provide input into village-level plans. District Planning Committees consolidate plans from lower tiers into holistic district plans.

1. Panchayati Raj Institutions
“Assam”

2. Panchayati Raj in Assam
With a view to incorporate the provisions of the
73rd Amendment Act’ 1992 of the Indian
Constitution, the Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994
was introduced and it replaced the Assam
Panchayati Raj Act, 1986.

3. Three tier Structure of PRI
(As per The Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994)
Zilla Parisad – District Level
Anchalik Panchayat – Block Level
Gaon Panchayats – Village level
Gram Sabha/Word Sabha
(Para/Mouza level)

4. Three Tier Panchayati Raj System
(Decentralize Structure)
Top Down Approach
Bottom Up Approach
Member of Legislative Assembly /Member of Parliament
Vice President
President
Zilla Parishad
Standing Committee
ZP Member
Chief Councillor
Vice Chief Councillor
Standing Committee
Anchalik Panchayat
AP Member (Councillor)
President
Gram Panchayat
Vice President
Standing Committee
GP Member/Ward
Member
GP Member/Ward
Member
GP Member/Ward
Member
GP Member/Ward
Member
GP Member/Ward
Member
Ward/Village
Ward/Village
Ward/Village
Ward/Village
Ward/Village

5. Structure GP Level
1.
Gaon Panchayats:
President – (directly elected by people.)
2.
One Vice President – (to be elected from
among the members of Gaon Panchayat.)
3.
Ten Ward members – (directly elected by
people.)
AP member are also the member of Gaon
Panchayat (directly elected by people.)
4.

6. Structure Block Level
Anchalik Panchayats
1.
President – to be elected by the elected members(Councillor) of the
Anchalik Panchayats.
2.
Vice President- to be elected by the elected members(Concillor) of the
Anchalik Panchayats.
3. Members (AP Member)
a) One member(Councillor) from each Gaon Panchayat area to be directly
elected by people from the territoril constituencies of the Gaon
Panchayat under the jurisdiction of Anchalik Panchayat.
b) The President of the Gaon Panchayats falling within the jurisdiction of the
Anchalik Panchayat
c) The member of the House of People represntating constituencies which
comprieses wholly or partly, the Anchalik Panchayat
d) Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly of the State represting
constituencies which comprises wholly or partly, the Anchalik Panchayat.

7. Structure District Level
Zilla Parishad
1. President – elected from among the directly
elected members of Zilla Parishad.
2. Vice President - elected from among the directly
elected members of Zilla Parishad.
3. Members –
 Members directly elected from the Zilla Parishad
constituencies of the district.
 Presidents of the Anchalik Panchayats.
 Members of House of people & member of
Legislative Assembly.

8. Gaon Panchayat:
(Three standing committees, these are)
a. Development Standing Committee.
b. Social Justice Standing Committee.
c. Social Welfare Standing Committee.
(The President of Gaon Panchayat shall be ex-officio member and Chairman of all the
three committees)
Anchalik Panchayat:
(Three committees, they are)
a. General standing committee.
b. Finance, Audit and Planning committee.
c. Social justice committee.
(The President of the Anchalik Panchayat shall be the president of the General Standing Committee
and Finance, audit and Planning Committee. The Vice President of Ancholik Panchayat shall be the
Chairman of Social Justice Committee. No member of the Anchalik Panchayt Shall be eligible to
serve in more then one standing committee)

9. Zilla Parishad:
(Four committees, they are)
a. General standing committee.
b. Finance and Audit committee.
c. Social justice committee.
d. Planning and development committee.
(The term of the standing committee is one year and no member of the Zila Parisad
Shall be eligible to serve in more then one standing committee at a time. The
president of the Zila Parisad shall be the chairman of the General Standing
Committee and Finance and Audit Committees. The other standing committees
shall elect the chairman from among their members)

10. PRI Planning Process
District Plan/Zilla Parishad Plan
(Convergence with Line Department)
Ancholik Panchayat Plan/Block Plan
(Convergence with Line Department)
Gram Panchayat Plan
Ward level Plan/Gram
Sansad Plan
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X

11. For devolution of functions, functionaries and funds
to Zilla Parisads, Anchalik Panchayat and Gaon
Panchayat. Activity mapping has been prepared
meticulously for 23 subjects demarcating
responsibilities of each tier of Panchayats.

12. The subjects assign to PRIs
1. Agriculture including Agriculture Extension.
2. Land Improvement & Soil Conservation.
3. Minor Irrigation, Water Management & Watershed
Development.
4. Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Poultry.
5. Fisheries.
6. Social Forestry & Farm Forestry.
7. Minor Forest Products.
8. Small Scale Industries including Food Processing.
9. Handloom, Sericulture, Khadi, Village & Cottage Industries.
10. Drinking Water & Sanitation.
11. Fuel & Fodder.
12. Roads, Culverts, Bridges, Ferries, Waterways & Others means of
Communication.

13. 13. Rural Electrification including Distribution of Electricity.
14. Poverty Alleviation Programme.
15. Primary Education.
16. Secondary Education.
17. Adult & Non Formal Education.
18. Sports & Youth Affaires.
19. Health Sanitation including Hospitals, Health Centers &
Dispensaries.
20. Family Welfare.
21. Women & Child Development.
22. Social Welfare, including Welfa.re of the Handicapped and
Mentally Retarded.
23. Public Distribution System.

14. Devolution off Fund :
Panchayat window in the state budget has been opened and fund
has been released directly to the Panchayats.
Meanwhile the Third State Finance Commission has submitted its
report. The basic approach of the Commission has been to put the
PRIs and ULBs on a sound financial footing in conformity with their
empowerment under the Constitutional amendments. Provision of
adequate resource to local government commensurate with their
duties and responsibility envisaged in the 73rd and 74th
amendments and also to safeguard their financial autonomy has
been major concern of the Commission.

15. Devolution of Functionaries
Devolution of functionaries will take place after the
modalities/guidelines are finalized with the line
departments.
Orientation programmes have been organized for
the officials of the line departments on Activity
Mapping.

16. Gram Sabha in Assam :
Participatory development through Gram Sabha
became more realistic and meaningful in the state
after 73rd Constitution Amendment.
 As per Assam Panchayati Raj Act 1994 the Gram Sabha shall
perform the following functions namely:
•
•
•
Mobilizing voluntary labour and contribution in kind and cash for the
Community Welfare Programmes.
Identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of development
schemes pertaining to the village.
Rendering all kinds of assistance in the implementation of development
schemes pertaining to village and rendering service in the villages.
(The Gram Sabha shall also consider the following matters and may make
recommendation and suggestions to the Gram Panchayats.)

17. District Planning Committee (DPC)
 District planning committee (DPC) is the committee created as per
article 243 ZD of the Constitution of India
 The committee in each district should consolidate the plans
prepared by the PRI and the Municipalities in the district
 District planning committees have been constituted and efforts
are on strengthen those committees so that holistic district plans
can be prepared for sustainable development of the districts.
 Necessary training and guidelines are being provided to the
district level officials so that they can extend technical support to
the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the preparation of their
respective plans for social justice and economic development in a
participatory manner.
 The DPCs have also been able to converge the scrotal
departments in the preparation of the District plan.

18. Guidelines on preparation of District Plan:
The Government of Assam has already notified comprehensive guidelines on the
preparation of district plan. As per the guidelines the sequence in the preparation
of the district plan can be summed up as follows:
Preparation of district vision, block vision and gram
panchayat level vision.
Preparation of participatory plan involving Gram Sabha from
Gram Panchayats to Zilla Parishad.
Preparation of plans by Urban Local Bodies.
Consolidation of plans prepared by local bodies by District
Planning Committees.

19. Planning starts with the preparation of vision documents by local bodies. Based on
the vision document prepared and adopting a participatory approach, panchayat will
prepare development plans in the following sequence highlighting and prioritizing the
needs of the rural people and setting goal for a five year period in the following
manner:
A. The draft plan preparation should start at the Gram Sabha level. The Gram
Panchayat may finalize its plan based on priorities from the Gram Sabha and given
suggestions for the Intermediate Panchayat. Projects and activities which can be
implemented at the Gram Panchayat level should be included as “Gram Panchayati
Plan”. Those projects and activities which can be implemented only in more than
one Gram Panchayat, will be forwarded to the Intermediate Panchayats to be
considered for inclusion into the “Intermediate Panchayat Plan”. The Gram
Panchayat plans should also provide an estimate of the community contribution
that can be mobilized for the purpose of implementing the development plan.
B. Based on these suggestions received from Gram Panchayats and its own priorities
the Intermediate Panchayat should finalize its plan. Projects and activities, which
can be implemented at the Intermediate Panchayat level should be included as
“Anchalik Panchayat Plan”. Those projects and activities which need to be
implemented in more than one intermediate panchayat will be forwarded to the
District Panchayat to be considered for inclusion into the “District Panchayat Plan”.

20. Thanks
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