Recommendations of Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

Ans. The BalwantRai Mehta Committee was a committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working. The recommendations of the committee were approved by NDC in January 1958 and this set the stage for the launching of Panchayati Raj Institutions throughout the country. The committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralisation’ which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj. (i) Establishment of a 3-tier Panchayati Raj system—Gram Panchayat at the village level, PanchayatSamiti at the block level, and ZilaParishad at the district level.This system was adopted by state governments during the 1950s and 60s, as laws were passed to establish panchayats in various states. It also found backing in the Indian Constitution, with the 73rd amendment in 1992 to accommodate the idea. The Amendment Act of 1992 contains provision for devolution of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats both for the preparation of economic development plans and social justice, as well as for implementation in relation to 29 subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution.[v] The panchayats receive funds from three sources: 1. Local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission 2. Funds for implementation of centrally sponsored schemes 3. Funds released by the state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions. The BalwantRai Mehta Committee was a committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme (1952).[vi] The recommendations of Balwantrai Mehta Committee were implemented by manystates in the country. Till the mid sixties, Panchayati Raj system flourished in India. But therewas decline in Panchayati Raj Institutions after the mid sixties mainly because of centralizedtendencie of functioning all over the country.