Difference Between Two and Three Tier Panchayati Raj System

The Panchayati Raj system is an Indian decentralised form of local self-government that attempts to deliver democracy to the people. The word “Panchayati Raj” literally means “ruling by the village council” and refers to the rural local government system. The Panchayati Raj system was adopted as a constitutional amendment in India in 1992 with the goal of decentralising authority and increasing democratic participation at the grassroots level. It is a crucial component of India’s democratic system since it allows local people to participate in decision-making, facilitates the delivery of services and infrastructure at the local level, and promotes accountability and openness.

The Panchayati Raj system is divided into two tiers or levels: the Gram Panchayat (village council) and the Panchayat Samiti (block or taluka level council). The Gram Panchayat is in charge of a single village or set of villages, whereas the Panchayat Samiti is in charge of a group of Gram Panchayats. A third layer of Panchayati Raj institutions, known as the Zilla Parishad (district council), has also been established in several states. The Zilla Parishad is in charge of managing district development and coordinating the operations of the lower-level councils.

Background

• In India, the Panchayati Raj system is a decentralised type of administration aimed at bringing democracy closer to the people at the grassroots level. It changed throughout time due to different constitutional modifications and policy changes.
• The system may be traced back to the 1957 Balwantrai Mehta Committee Report, which advocated for the development of Panchayati Raj institutions to decentralise power and promote local self-governance. However, the Panchayati Raj system was not fully recognised and given constitutional standing until the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1992.
• The 73rd Amendment introduced Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels, while the 74th Amendment introduced Municipalities at the city, town, and urban agglomeration levels. These amendments provided for the direct election of members of these institutions, the reservation of seats for women and marginalized groups, and the devolution of powers to these institutions in various areas of governance.
• Since the introduction of the Panchayati Raj system, there have been several milestones in its development. The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on April 24 each year to mark the passing of the 73rd Amendment, and several policy initiatives have been undertaken to strengthen the system. These include the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan, the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme, and the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project.

Two Panchayati Raj system

• The two-tier Panchayati Raj system is an Indian centralized governance system that involves the formation of two levels of local self-government institutions, namely Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis.
• Gram Panchayats are the system’s fundamental components, in charge of governing villages or groups of villages. Each Gram Panchayat is made up of a directly elected Sarpanch (village leader) and other people-elected members known as Panchs (councillors). Gram Panchayats are in charge of providing basic facilities such as water, sanitation, healthcare, and education in the community.
• The 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, passed in 1992, established the two-tier Panchayati Raj system with the intention of advancing local democracy and giving people more control at the local level. It has contributed to increased public participation in the government process and the growth of the nation’s rural areas. 
• The system is composed of two tiers: the Gram Panchayat (village council) at the village level and the Panchayat Samiti (block council) at the block or taluka level. Here are the roles and responsibilities of each level:

Gram Panchayat:

The Gram Panchayat is the lowest tier of the Panchayati Raj System and is responsible for governing a single village or group of villages. Its primary functions include:

1. Planning and implementing rural development programs and schemes within its jurisdiction.
2. Maintaining and developing community assets such as roads, water supply systems, and public buildings.
3. Implementing government welfare programs such as MGNREGA, ICDS, etc.
4. Resolving disputes and conflicts that arise within the village.
5. Collecting taxes and fees as authorized by the state government.
6. Maintaining records and registers of births, deaths, and marriages in the village.

Panchayat Samiti:

The Panchayat Samiti is the second tier of the Panchayati Raj System and covers a group of Gram Panchayats within a block or taluka. Its primary functions include:

1. Coordinating the development activities of the Gram Panchayats under its jurisdiction.
2. Planning and implementing block-level development programs and schemes.
3. Providing support and guidance to the Gram Panchayats in their development activities.
4. Ensuring the effective delivery of government welfare programs at the block level.
5. Mobilizing resources for rural development activities.
6. Maintaining records and registers of births, deaths, and marriages within its jurisdiction.

Three Panchayati Raj System

It is the primary unit of local self-government at the village level. It is made up of Panchayat members, who are elected for a five-year tenure. The Gram Panchayat is in charge of essential services like sanitation, drinking water, street lighting, and village road maintenance, among other things.

It is the intermediate stage of local self-government for a group of villages. The Panchayat Samiti is in charge of planning and implementing several development projects at the block level. It is composed of delegates elected from each of the Gram Panchayats under its jurisdiction.

In India, the three-tier Panchayati Raj system is a kind of decentralised government. It consists of three tiers of institutions for local self-government, each with unique duties and authority.

Gram Panchayat (Village level): 

The Gram Panchayat is the primary level of the Panchayati Raj system, responsible for governing and managing village-level affairs. It comprises elected representatives who oversee the development and progress of their respective villages. The Gram Panchayat is responsible for executing essential rural development programs such as sanitation, primary education, healthcare, drinking water supply, and social welfare initiatives. Additionally, it maintains accurate records of vital events such as births, deaths, and marriages occurring within the village.

Panchayat Samiti (Block level):

Sitting between the Gram Panchayats and the Zilla Parishad, the Panchayat Samiti constitutes the intermediary tier of the Panchayati Raj system. It comprises a group of Gram Panchayats and serves as the governing body for a block or taluka encompassing multiple villages. The Panchayat Samiti plays a pivotal role in coordinating and supervising the functioning of the Gram Panchayats under its jurisdiction. Additionally, it oversees the execution of diverse rural development schemes and programs pertaining to agriculture, animal husbandry, and rural industries

Zilla Parishad (District level): 

At the apex of the Panchayati Raj system, the Zilla Parishad serves as the topmost tier representing the district-level administration. It is composed of elected representatives from the Panchayat Samitis and shoulders the responsibility of overseeing the holistic progress and growth of the entire district. The Zilla Parishad acts as the nodal agency that coordinates and monitors the operations of the Panchayat Samitis falling within its jurisdiction. Moreover, it devises and executes a diverse range of schemes and programs catering to the district’s needs concerning education, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development.

Comparison Between Two-Tier and Three-Tier Systems:

The most prevalent types of systems utilised in decentralised governance are two-tier and three-tier systems. The number of levels of government and the roles they play varied between these systems.

Similarities between the two-tier and three-tier Panchayati Raj systems:

1. Both systems aim to promote grassroots democracy and decentralize power to the local level.
2. Both systems have elected representatives at the village or ward level.
3. Both systems have provisions for the reservation of seats for women and marginalized communities.

Differences between the two-tier and three-tier Panchayati Raj systems:

1. The village level and the block level are the only two tiers of government in the two-tier system. The three-tier structure, on the other hand, consists of three levels: village, block, and district. 
2. Comparing the two-tier and three-tier systems, the two-tier system has fewer elected representatives. For instance, the two-tier system in Uttar Pradesh only has two representatives per village, but the three-tier system in Kerala has four representatives per village. 
3. Comparatively speaking, the two-tier system has fewer administrative duties than the three-tier structure. For instance, the block level in a two-tier system only has a small number of administrative duties, whereas, in a three-tier system, the block level is responsible for a large number of administrative duties.

Advantages and disadvantages of the two-tier Panchayati Raj system:

Advantages:

1. In comparison to the three-tier system, the two-tier system is simpler and easier to implement. 
2. Due to fewer elected representatives and administrative duties, the two-tier system is more economical than the three-tier system. 
3. Local communities can participate and be more actively involved in decision-making thanks to the two-tier approach.

Disadvantages:

1. Larger states that require more decentralisation of power may find the two-tier structure ineffective. 
2. When dealing with complex problems that demand a higher level of administrative competence, the two-tier structure could not be effective. 
3. Due to the lower number of elected members, the two-tier system may not be as effective in guaranteeing the equitable allocation of resources.

Advantages and disadvantages of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system:

Advantages:

1. Greater decentralisation of power and efficient local management is made possible by the three-tier structure. 
2. The three-tier approach is useful for handling complicated problems that call for a higher level of administrative proficiency. 
3. Because there are more elected representatives under the three-tier system, there is more equal allocation of resources.

Disadvantages:

1. Compared to the two-tier system, the three-tier system is more difficult and expensive to install. 
2. Conflicts between the elected representatives at various levels of government could result from the three-tier system. 
3. Given that there are more layers of governance, the three-tier structure could not be helpful in promoting local participation and grassroots democracy.

Conclusion:

Finally, the Panchayati Raj system is an important feature of India’s political landscape since it allows local communities to participate in decision-making and govern themselves. Although its origins can be traced back to ancient India, the present form was enshrined in the Indian Constitution in 1992 and has since undergone numerous revisions to improve its efficacy and responsiveness to people’s needs.

The Panchayati Raj system has demonstrated its ability to promote grassroots democracy, provide social justice, and advance rural development. It has given formerly disenfranchised groups, such as women, marginalised communities, and the poor, a voice in the political process. Furthermore, the approach has reduced the gap between the government and citizens while increasing transparency and accountability in government.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. What is the Panchayati Raj system in India?

Ans: The Panchayati Raj system is a decentralized form of government in India that involves three tiers of local self-government institutions: the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishad.

2. What is the difference between the two-tier and three-tier Panchayati Raj systems?

Ans: The two-tier system involves Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis, while the three-tier system includes a Zilla Parishad as the apex body. The three-tier system provides a more comprehensive approach to local self-governance as compared to the two-tier system.

3. What are the roles and responsibilities of the Gram Panchayat?

Ans: The Gram Panchayat is responsible for managing and governing village-level affairs, such as sanitation, primary education, healthcare, drinking water supply, and social welfare initiatives. It also maintains records of vital events occurring within the village.

4. What are the duties of the Panchayat Samiti?

Ans: The Panchayat Samiti serves as the governing body for a block or taluka encompassing multiple villages. It is responsible for coordinating and supervising the functioning of the Gram Panchayats under its jurisdiction, as well as overseeing the execution of diverse rural development schemes and programs.

5. What is the role of the Zilla Parishad?

Ans: The Zilla Parishad is the apex body of the Panchayati Raj system and represents the district-level administration. It oversees the holistic progress and growth of the entire district, coordinates and monitors the operations of the Panchayat Samitis falling within its jurisdiction, and executes a diverse range of schemes and programs catering to the district’s needs concerning education, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development.