The recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee inspired many states to pass legislation to implement PR system at their local level in rural areas.
Model of the three-tier system, originally introduced in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan on Oct 2, 1959 (the first two states to implement most of the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Committee) has been in vogue in only nine states (Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar). But even here Maharashtra and Gujarat pattern is different. They have made the Zila Parishad the most important body and have introduced direct elections.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have District Development Council, instead of Zila Parishad. In five states (Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Karnataka and Orissa) there is a two-tier system – Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis.
All these models by and large provide for a three tier structure of PR. All of them stressed for effective decentralization of powers and functions of the PR bodies.