Panchayati Raj Department

In pursuance of the provisions made in the 73rd Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1992, the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006 has been enacted, which provides for the establishment of Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the Block level and Zila Parishad at District level. At present, 8058 Gram Panchayats, 533 Panchayat Samitis, and 38 Zila Parishads are functional in the State. Gram Panchayats are divided into wards, which are approximately 1.15 lacs in number. In addition to the establishment of three-tier Panchayats, a Gram Katchahry has also been established at each Gram Panchayat for the dispensation of justice at the doorsteps of the rural populace, which has got the authority to bring about an amicable settlement of certain criminal and certain civil disputes between the rival parties, and in case of failure to do so, to impose a fine upto rupees one thousand to the party found guilty after deciding on the matter through prescribed procedures. Apart from providing reservation to members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes in seats of members and chairpersons of three-tier Panchayats and Gram Katchahry, fifty percent horizontal reservation has been provided to women belonging to both reserved and general categories. To usher in decentralization at the grassroots level, along with the provision of Gram Sabha at the Gram Panchayat level, Ward Sabha has been created at each Ward level under the chairmanship of the Ward Member. The Ward Sabha, through Ward Implementation and Management Committee, implements several important schemes of public importance assigned to the Ward by the Gram Panchayat.