At a glance

The Gram Panchayat is the fundamental level local self-government institution in rural areas. It plays a significant role in rural development and in providing basic amenities to the people.

The Gram Panchayats primarily function in relation to the 29 subjects included in the Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

  • Infrastructure: Construction and maintenance of rural roads, bridges, culverts, and drains.
  • Water & Sanitation: Ensuring drinking water supply, public hygiene, waste management, and installing and maintaining street lights.
  • Social Welfare: Welfare of women and children, development of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, and implementation of poverty eradication schemes.
  • Planning: Preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for rural economic development and social justice.
  • Record Keeping: Registration of births, deaths, and marriages.
  • Revenue: Levying and collecting taxes on houses and shops, and receiving financial grants from the State Government.

The Gram Panchayats are effectively the government closest to the rural population, and they are primarily responsible for village development.