This is Delhi It is the center of politics after all; But all the affairs cannot be done from Delhi. Shouldn’t have happened. Even division of power at center and state level alone does not solve the problem; So there should be good governance at the local level as well. Mahatma Gandhi insisted on decentralization of power. He was of the opinion that there should be self-sufficient villages. For this, a committee (1957) was formed under the chairmanship of Balwantrai Mehta to carry out group development programmes. This committee suggested the path of decentralization following democratic principles. This committee proposed a three-tier plan of Panchayat Raj. This three-tier structure was suggested as Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the taluka level and Zilla Parishad at the district level. The committee also recommended that Gram Panchayats should have members elected directly from the people, while Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad should have members elected through indirect elections. The committee’s report contained detailed instructions on the number of members at each level, the procedures there. The National Development Council accepted these suggestions.

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According to this, Rajasthan was the first state to implement the Panchayat Raj system. Many states subsequently adopted this system, but not all had a three-tier system. The composition of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad was also not the same everywhere. A three-tier scheme was implemented in Maharashtra. Zilla Parishad had more powers in it. In some places Nyaya Panchayats were also established for civil/criminal matters. The Janata Party government formed a committee in 1977 under the chairmanship of Ashok Mehta. The committee was responsible for making suggestions about the performance of Panchayat Raj institutions. This committee suggested a two-tier structure of Zilla Parishad at the district level and Mandal Panchayat at the taluka level. Zilla Parishad will be the main center of decentralization, it said. Many important suggestions were made like social audit and welfare schemes for the oppressed communities, a separate account of the Panchayat Raj system, a ministerial position for the same. Janata government fell before its implementation.

Later in 1985, G.V.K. A committee was formed under the chairmanship of Rao. This committee criticized the Panchayat Raj system. He said that the state of Panchayat Raj system has become ‘grass without roots’. The committee had also suggested that giving importance to the Zilla Parishad, there should be a post of District Development Commissioner. There were many other important points in these recommendations. Later, the L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) suggested that Panchayat Raj institutions should be given constitutional status. The Thangan Committee and the Gadgil Committee also made recommendations to strengthen the Panchayat Raj system. An attempt was made to give constitutional form to these Panchayat Raj institutions through the 64th Amendment Bill; But that bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and got stuck in the Rajya Sabha. Finally, in 1992, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment was passed which gave constitutional status to the Panchayat Raj system. The Eleventh Schedule was added to the Constitution. Article 243 included provisions in this regard. Panchayat Raj system ushered in the era of decentralization of power. This was a historic and remarkable step in the political course of India.

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