(i) Unlike the first two tiers of governance – the state and the centre – PRIs/municipalities do not legislatures to act as a check and a break on the executive authority.
In the Panchayati Raj system, role of advice and consent has to be performed by the gram sabhas functioning effectively as Parliaments. Weak or ineffective gram sabhas fuel corruption and social discrimination. A strong s of gram sabhas is thus the foundation of good governance through Panchayati Raj.
(ii) The size of the gram sabha varies from state to state and even within states, experience has that the larger the gram sabha the less effective it is and the more liable to capture by the do element in the panchayat area.
The answer to this lies in ward/neighbourhood sabhas of around 200-300 so that all elements of the local community are able to articulate their con- Some states have already made such arrangements. Others may reinforce their gram Sabha establishing ward/neighbourhood sabhas.
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(iii) Attendance at gram sabha meetings has been thin and declining virtually everywhere. Villagers not feel they are stakeholders in the gram sabha because the role and functions of the grams’ are inadequate, even non-existent.
For though meaningful empowerment of the gram/ward sa they must be entitled to all the information required for transparent and good governance, as as given duties which would make the elected panchayat answerable to the gram/ward sabha. At minimum, gram/ward sabhas should be empowered to approve all plans and programmes economic development and social justice before implementation begins; be entitled to auth the issue or withholding of utilization certificates for funds allocated to different projects/program of the panchayat; and given full powers for the identification of beneficiaries for beneficiary poverty alleviation programmes.
(vi) The participation of women in gram/ward sabha meetings has been woeful. To rectify this, ma sabhas comprising all adult women voters might be organized at gram/ward level so that they discuss among themselves issues coming before the larger meeting and authorize from a themselves spokespersons (or saathins) who will speak for the Mahila sabha at the panchayat gram sabha levels.
(v) Legislative and other steps may be taken to ensure that the powers and responsibilities of gram/ward sabhas are spelt out and mahila sabhas begin functioning.
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Women
(i) In many states, a disproportionate number of no-confidence motions are being moved against women chairpersons with the ulterior objective of replacing them with men. To forestall such malpractice, s’ may make immediate provision in their laws to ensure that if a woman chairperson is removed for was confidence, her place can be taken only by another woman.
(ii) Although in an increasing number of states, women are showing themselves capable of standing winning from general seats, by and large it is reservations that are responsible for nearly one lakhs w holding elective position in the panchayats.
The Constitution has left it to the states to decide the frequent of rotation of seats reserved for women. On the basis of their own experience and of others, states requested to undertake a thorough review of the functioning of rotations and introduce appropriate ref before the next round of panchayat/municipal elections.