Page 1 - NOTES
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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
                                                    STD VI- CIVICS
                   CH-1 Grassroots Democracy-Part 2 Local Government in Rural areas
                                                         NOTES


               Sub topic 1- Panchayati Raj System

               Important Terms:


                    Panchayat- Indian local self government or Village council
                    Government schemes- Programmes initiated by the government for

                       the socioeconomic well-being of the people
                    Sarpanch- Elected head of a village level
                    Patwari- A village registrar or accountant in India


               India, primarily, is a land of villages and around 72% of the total population of

               India resides in the rural areas. The rural areas thus forms the roots for the
               governance in India and the democracy should start thereon. Mahatma Gandhi
               also said that the main element for the development and for the governance

               should not be the big cities rather the village because it is where India resides.


               Panchayati Raj Institute has the following bodies under it:

                   1.  Gram Panchayat- At the village level

                   2.  Panchayat Samiti- At the block or tehsil level
                   3.  Zila Parishad- At the district level


               Gram Panchayat:
               A Gram Panchayat is the basic unit of local self-government in rural India. It

               functions at the village level and is responsible for the administration and
               development of the village or group of villages it serves.

               Features:
                     Headed by a Sarpanch (Elected)

                     Several Panchs (elected)/ ward members
                     Gram Panchayat is assisted by a Secretary, who is appointed by the

                       Government

                     Members are elected through democratic elections, typically every 5 years.
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