What is a panchayat samiti? All About Panchayat Samiti
What is a panchayat samiti?
Panchayat Samiti is the nodal agency for rural development in India. It is the link between the grass-roots level and the district administration. It ensures the effective implementation of government schemes and programmes at the village level.
The Samiti is responsible for the overall development of the village. It ensures the provision of basic amenities such as water, sanitation, health care, education, etc. It also promotes the socio-economic development of the village.
The Samiti mobilizes the villagers for participatory development. It builds the capacity of the villagers to undertake developmental activities. It also coordinates the activities of various government departments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the village.
The Samiti is accountable to the villagers for the effective implementation of government schemes and programmes. It also acts as a grievance redressal mechanism for the villagers.

Panchayat Samiti is the nodal body at the village level for the administration of the rural development programmes. It is the third tier of the three-tier Panchayati Raj System in India. The Panchayat Samiti is constituted by the elected representatives of the Gram Panchayats. It is the body through which the policies and programmes of the government are implemented at the village level.
The Role of Panchayat Samiti:
The Panchayat Samiti is the key body for the implementation of the rural development programmes in the village. It is responsible for the overall development of the village. Some of the key functions of the Panchayat Samiti are:
- Planning and Implementation of Development Programmes: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for the planning and implementation of the rural development programmes in the village. It coordinates the activities of the various line departments and agencies working in the village.
- Execution of Government Schemes: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for the execution of the government schemes at the village level. It ensures that the schemes are implemented in an effective and efficient manner.
- Collection of Data and Preparation of Annual Reports: The Panchayat Samiti collects data from the Gram Panchayats and prepares annual reports on the development of the village.
- Financial Management: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for the financial management of the village. It oversees the financial affairs of the Gram Panchayats and ensures that the funds are utilised for the development of the village.
- Maintenance of Village Infrastructure: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for the maintenance of the village infrastructure. It oversees the maintenance of the roads, bridges, water supply, sanitation, etc. in the village.
- Development of Village Resources: The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for the development of the village resources. It encourages the villagers to adopt modern agricultural practices and to use the available resources for the development of the village.
- Implementation of Social Welfare Schemes: The Panchayat Samiti implements social welfare schemes in the village such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana More Yojana.
The panchayat samiti is the most important tier of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India. It is the intermediate tier between the village panchayat and the district administration. The panchayat samiti is responsible for the overall development of the rural areas. It is also responsible for the implementation of the programmes and schemes of the government in the rural areas.

What are the functions of a panchayat samiti?
The functions of the panchayat samiti are:
- To prepare the development plan for the rural areas and to implement the same.
- To implement the programmes and schemes of the government in the rural areas.
- To collect and collate information on the development of the rural areas.
- To supervise the functioning of the village panchayats.
- To review the functioning of the village panchayats.
- To recommend measures for the improvement of the functioning of the village panchayats.
- To coordinate the activities of the various departments and agencies of the government working in the rural areas.
- To act as the link between the district administration and the village panchayats.
- To undertake any other function assigned to it by the government.
How Panchayat Samiti work?
Panchayat Samiti is the nodal agency for rural development. It is responsible for implementing government schemes and programmes in the rural areas. It also performs the functions of rural local government.
The Powers and Functions of Panchayat Samiti:
Panchayat Samiti has the following powers and functions:
- It has the power to levy taxes and to collect revenue.
- It has the power to make rules and regulations for the orderly governance of the rural areas.
- It has the power to borrow money for the development of the rural areas.
- It has the power to take disciplinary action against its employees.
- It has the power to enter into partnership agreements with other organisations for the development of the rural areas.
- It has the power to transfer its employees to other organisations.
- It has the power to make recommendations to the state government for the development of the rural areas.
- It has the power to perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the state government.
How is it different from a village panchayat?
A village panchayat is the basic unit of rural local self-government in India. It is an assembly of all adult villagers in a village, who are elected directly or indirectly by the villagers. The village panchayat is responsible for the village’s socio-economic development and for the implementation of development schemes at the village level.
A panchayat samiti is an apex rural local self-government body in India. It is an assembly of all elected members of all village panchayats in a district. The panchayat samiti is responsible for the district’s socio-economic development and for the implementation of development schemes at the district level.
What are the responsibilities of a panchayat samiti?
The panchayat samiti is the primary governing body at the village level in India. It is responsible for the overall development of the village and its residents. This includes implementing government schemes and policies, and delivering basic services to the villagers. The samiti is also responsible for ensuring that the villagers have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.
How has the role of panchayat samitis changed over the years?
Panchayat samitis are local-level administrative units in India. They were created in 1993, through the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India, to provide a grassroots level of government in rural areas, and to promote social and economic development.
The role of panchayat samitis has changed over the years. Initially, they were responsible for delivering basic services, such as water, sanitation, and education. However, as India has become more urbanized, the role of panchayat samitis has shifted to focus more on economic development and governance.
Panchayat samitis are now responsible for developing and implementing local-level plans for economic development, and for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of those plans. They are also responsible for ensuring that government programs and policies are properly implemented at the local level. Additionally, they play a role in ensuring that the voices of local residents are heard in the decision-making process.
What challenges do panchayat samitis face today?
Panchayat samitis are local government institutions in India that operate at the intermediate level between the village panchayat and the district administration. They were created in 1988 under the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India, which devolved power to the lower levels of government.
The main challenge faced by panchayat samitis today is the lack of financial resources and capacity. They are not able to deliver on the many mandates that have been given to them, such as delivering basic services, developing infrastructure, and creating employment opportunities. This is in part due to the lack of financial resources, but also due to the lack of technical and managerial capacity within the panchayat samitis.
Another challenge faced by panchayat samitis is the lack of women’s participation. Women account for only about 10% of the membership of panchayat samitis, and they are often not given the same level of opportunity and voice as men. This limits the effectiveness of the panchayat samitis in delivering on their mandates.
Finally, there is a lack of coordination and cooperation between the different levels of government. This leads to duplication of efforts and a lack of clarity about who is ultimately responsible for delivering on certain mandates. Panchayat samitis need to be better coordinated with the district administration and with the state government in order to be more effective in delivering on their mandates.
How can panchayat samitis be more effective in delivering services
Panchayat samitis are village-level government institutions in India that are responsible for delivering a variety of services to the villagers. However, these services are often not delivered as effectively as they could be. There are a number of ways that panchayat samitis can be more effective in delivering services.
One way is to ensure that the villagers are involved in the planning and delivery of these services. The villagers should be consulted on what services they need, and how these services can be delivered in a way that is most effective for them. This will help to ensure that the services are actually useful and relevant to the villagers.
Another way to make panchayat samitis more effective is to make sure that the staff is well-trained and capable of delivering the services. The staff should be trained in how to provide these services, and they should also be familiar with the local area and the villagers’ needs. This will help to ensure that the services are delivered in a way that is efficient and effective.
Finally, it is important to make sure that the resources are available to support the delivery of these services. The panchayat samiti should have the necessary funds and equipment to provide the services that have been promised to the villagers. This will help to ensure that the services are actually delivered, and that the villagers are able to benefit from them.
Conclusion:
A panchayat samiti is an elected body in India that is responsible for rural development at the local level. The samiti is composed of representatives from the village panchayat, who are elected by the villagers. The samiti is responsible for a variety of tasks, including rural development, agriculture, water resources, and social welfare. It also has the power to levy taxes and make recommendations to the state government on issues affecting the rural population.