By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas
A Panchayat Samiti (block panchayat) is a local government body at the tehsil level. This body works for the villages of the tehsil that together are called a “development block”. The Panchayat Samiti is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration.
In general, the block panchayat has the same form as the gram panchayat but at a higher level.
COMPOSITION
Membership in the block panchayat is mostly ex-official; it is composed of: all of the Sarpanchas (gram panchayat chairmen) in the Panchayat Samiti area, the MPs and MLAs of the area, the sub-district officer (SDO) of the subdivision, co-opt members (representatives of the SC/ST and women), associate members (a farmer from the area, a representative of the cooperative societies and one from marketing services), and some elected members.
The Panchayat Samiti is elected for a tel Welfare
- Information Technology.
- Water Supply Department.
- Animal Husbandry and others.
FUNCTIONS
- Implementation of schemes for the development of agriculture and infrastructure.
- Establishment of primary health centres and primary schools.
- Supply of clean drinking water, drainage and construction/repair of roads.
- Development of a cottage and small-scale industries, and the opening of cooperative societies.
- Establishment of youth organisations in India
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