Best practices related to Gram Sabha

Gram Panchayat Pimpri Gawali

Pimpri Gavali is model village in Maharashtra state. This village achieved water security in short span due to effective implementation of the Adarsh Gaon Yojana of the Government of Maharashtra. This village falls in the rain fed area of the Maharashtra. Gram Sabha played crucial role for the participatory approach in watershed development activities. Gram Panchayat had taken landmark decision to ban tube wells to avoid the exploitation of the groundwater through Gram Sabha resolution entitled ' Groundwater Regulation and Management Resolution. Gram Sabha also passed resolutions to ban liquor, ban for open grazing to protect forest, ban for open defecation etc.

Gariba Gram Panchayat - East Champaran, Bihar

Situated in Kalyanpur block of Patna district, Gariba is a Gram Panchayat motivated to eradicate poverty and improve the standard of living of the villagers. The Panchayat has played a pioneering role in improving the infrastructure of the village while engaging the local folk in these activities and providing them ample of chances to work. The measures announced in the Gram Sabha meetings aimed at an all-inclusive and structured growth of Gariba village. It is only natural that the positive outcome of the work done by the Gariba Panchayat attracted more and more people to its Gram Sabha.

Around 40% women and more than 50% of the elected members of Panchayat were present in these meetings, along with several government officials. Gariba Gram Panchayat sees a window of opportunity in its local manpower, a resource which could be used to address the structural requirements of the village. Several construction projects have been undertaken after due discussions in the Gram Sabha. A small bridge has been constructed as a cross over road, construction of roads till village crossing and brick and soil work all across the village are certain examples of the type of activities which were carried out by the Panchayat.

Openness and transparency are great virtues in governance and by themselves they guarantee an efficient administration. Work and activities taken up by Gariba Gram Sabha under MGNREGA scheme were elaborately analyzed and reviewed in the Gram Sabha and their complete execution was duly verified. Senior officials of various departments who participated in the Gram Sabha, briefed the members about several beneficiary schemes such as MGNREGA for the year 2012-13 and after an elaborate discussion and analysis of the situation, needs and shelf of projects based on the requirements of the village were chalked out. The Gram Sabha of Gariba has laid much importance on keeping the village clean. A village cleanliness committee has been set up to discuss and act on issues related to safe drinking water and clean toilets. The members of this committee requested the attendees of the Gram Sabha to give special attention to cleanliness, as negligence in this area might lead to high incidence of disease and epidemics. The villagers were also enlightened about certain basic cleanliness norms and requested to comply with the same. Gariba Gram Sabha has been very proactive in getting children enrolled to schools and has also enlightened parents about education being the birth right of their children. With a dedicated group of leaders and equally supportive audience, Gariba Gram Panchayat is achieving new milestones in a short span of time.

Major Highlights

• Appreciable attendance of women and other minorities in the Gram Sabha.
• Tree plantation activities were carried out throughout the village.
• Infrastructure of the village improved immensely.
• Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings were actively organized.

Source : National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad