Gram Sabha in the Panchayati Raj system is a forum which gives expression to the collective wisdom, aspirations and the will of the people. Comment. 15 Marks (UPSC CSE Mains 2024- Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
- The term Gram Sabha is defined in the Constitution of India under Article 243(b). Gram Sabha is the primary body of the Panchayati Raj system and by far the largest. It is a permanent body. The power to annul a decision of the Gram Sabha rests with the Gram Sabha only. Constitution mentions that Gram Sabha exercises such powers and performs such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
- The main focus of Gram Sabha is to promote village development, safety, equality, and social justice. The body itself consists of individuals whose names are present in the Panchayat or Village level electoral rolls.
- Gram Sabha is a unique institution which would enable the citizens to highlight grass-root level problems and build consensus on possible solutions. Various flagship programs of the government require large scale mobilization and people’s direct participation. It provides an ideal platform for this.
- Gandhi envisioned gramsabhas as the embodiment of swaraj, where villages would govern themselves independently. He believed that power should flow from the grassroots, making villages self-reliant and the core units of democracy. So far, we’ve not been able to live by these ideals. Thus, further empowerment is needed to ensure that gram sabhas are able to achieve their true purpose.
- To ensure effective functioning of the Gram Panchayats, it is important to revitalize the Gram Sabha as an assembly of the village. Bringing transparency, responsibility, and accountability in Panchayat functioning and its functionaries, would go a long way in creating Gram Panchayats as engines of socio-economic growth in the rural areas. Vibrant Gram Sabhas could also chart ways for achieving India’s Sustainable Development Goals by facilitating their localization to the Gram Panchayat level.
- By facilitating participative democracy, the Gram Sabhas will not only contribute to the socio-economic development of the villages, but also create collective transformational change in the rural areas of the country.
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