Community Development Programme, 1952

Both the Community Development Programme and National Extension Schemes were based on an integrated approach to the Various aspects of rural development. It was intended to promote self-help and Self-reliance among the rural people. Community Development Programme was launched in 55 Selected blocks. The Programme made provisions for appointing Block Development Officers (BDO) and Village Level Workers (VLW). This programme was intended to bring Socio-economic development of the rural masses on democratic lines, but failed to take off along the expected lines due to the absence or an effective instrument for people’s participation.

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1957

Both the Community Development Programme and National Extension Scheme were based on an integrated approach to the Various aspects of rural development. It was intended to promote self-help and self-reliance among the rural people. Community Development Programme was launched in 55 Selected blocks. The programme made provisions for appointing Block Development Officers (BDO) and Village Level Workers (VLW). This programme was intended to bring socio-economic development of the rural masses on democratic lines, but failed to take off along the expected lines due to the absence of an effective instrument for people’s participation.

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1957

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was the first Committee set up in 1957 to look into the problems of democratic decentralization in independent India. The Committee was asked to report on Community development projects. The Committee made of far reaching recommendations in the direction of democratic decentralization and rural reconstruction. It pointed out that the Community development programme was not successful because it failed to evoke local initiative and that in the absence of local initiative and local interest, development would not be possible.

The Committee laid down five fundamental principles:
1. There should be three tier structures of local self-Government bodies consisting of Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zilla parishad at the district level and these bodies should be linked together.
2. These bodies should be constituted with direct and indirect elections.
3. There Should be genuine transfer of Power and responsibility to these bodies to enable them to discharge their responsibility.
4. Adequate resources should be transferred to these bodies to enable them to discharge their responsibilities.
5. All Welfare and development Schemes and programmers at all three levels should be Channelized through these bodies, and
6. The three tier system should facilitate further devolution and disposal of power and responsibility in future.

The Committee envisaged a three tier system of panchayats known as Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayat and recommended encouragement of people’s participation in Community work, promotion of agriculture and animal husbandry, promoting the Welfare of the weaker sections and women through the Panchayats. The recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta committee Came into effect on 1st April 1958. Rajasthan was the first state to implement it on 2nd October 1959. The recommendations of Balwant Rai Mehta Committee were implemented by many States in the Country. By mid 1960s, Panchayats had reached all parts of the Country. But there was decline in Panchayati Raj Institutions after the mid-sixties mainly because of Centralized tendencies of functioning all over the Country.

Ashok Mehta Committee, 1977

In this backdrop in 1977, the Janala government appointed a Committee with Ashok Mehta as Chairman and was entrusted with the task of enquiring into the Causes responsible for the poor performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions. It was also asked to suggest measures to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The Ashok Mehta Committee Suggested :
1. The Committee suggested two-tier system of Panchayati Raj consisting of Zilla Parishad at the district level and Mandal Panchayats consisting of a group of Villages, as against three tier system suggested by the Balwantri Mehta Committee.
2. The Committee recommended constitutional Protection to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and further decentralization of Power at all levels.
3. It Also recommended regular elections to these bodies and open participation of political parties.
4. Separate judicial organ in the form of Nyaya Panchayat.
5. Planning at the district level with the District Collector exercising regulatory functions.
Due to the fall of the Janata government, the Ashok Mehta Committee recommendations were not implemented. Few States including Karnataka formulated new legislation on the basis of the recommendations of this Committee.

GVK Rao Committee, 1985

GVK Rao committee was set up to review the existing administrative arrangements for rural development and poverty alleviation programmes.
1. It recommended the revival of Panchayati Raj Institutions Such that greater responsibility of Planning, implementation, and monitoring of rural development programmes Could be assigned to them.
2. It Suggested a three-tier Structure of local Self-government
3. It Suggested district level planning with appointment of a District Development Commissioner as the Chief Executive of the Zila Parishad, and better integration of block and lower level planning with lower level PR institutions.
3.1.5 L.M. Singhvi Committee, 1986

L.M. Singhvi Committee recommended that:-
1. The Panchayati Raj Institutions Should be Constitutionally recognized and protected. New Chapter in the Constitution Should be provided to define their powers and functions.
2. Free and fair election to be Conducted through the election Commission,
3. The appointment of finance Commission for them,
4. All the rural development programmes are entrusted to the Panchayati Raj Institutions by amending Schedule VII of the Constitution.

73rd Amendment Act, 1992

Following these many reports, the government introduced the 64th Amendment bill on local government in 1989 in the Parliament, but it failed to get the required support. A second attempt was made in September 1990 to pass the bill in the Parliament. The bill however, lapsed due to dissolution of the Parliament. Finally the Bill was passed in 1992 as the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 with minor modifications and came into force on 24th April 1993. This Act has added Part IX to the Constitution and Consisting of 29 items of the Panchayats. Thus, the Act has given a practical shape to Article 40 (Under Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution which lays down that ‘the States Shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them function as units of Self-governments. The act finally gave the Panchayati Raj a Constitutional Status.

The Provisions of the Act can be grouped into two Categories - Compulsory Voluntary. The Compulsory provisions of the Act have to be included in the State laws creating the new Panchayati Raj System. The Voluntary provision, On the other hand, may be included at the discretion of the States, in accordance with the local situations and needs. Thus, the Act does not disturb the constitutional balance between the Centre and the States in the federal set up. Though it is a Central law on a State Subject, the Act does not encroach upon the jurisdiction of the States which are given adequate discretionary powers with regard to the Panchayats.