40-769: Bhagirathpur is a village and a gram panchayat in the Domkal CD block in the Domkol subdivision of Murshidabad district in the state of West Bengal , India . Bhgirathpur is located at 0°05′18″N 88°29′41″E / .088411°N 88.494692°E / .088411; 88.494692 . Bhagirathpur is 10 km from Domkal . It is on the banks of the Jalangi . Villages in Bhagirathpur gram panchayat are: Bhagirathpur, Char Bhagirathpur, Char Kaludiar, Char Salikadaha, Char Sibnagar, Char Sundalpur and Sibnagar Laskarpur. While
80-552: A gram Panchayat are elected from among the elected ward members. the term of office for elected members in a Gram Panchayat, including the Sarpanch and Upa-Sarpanch, is typically five years. All people over the age of 18 who are residents of the territory of that village's Gram panchayat can vote. For women's empowerment and to encourage participation of women in the democratic process, the government of India has set some restrictions on Gram panchayat elections , reserving one-third of
120-413: A highly centralized system of government, this has been moderated by delegating several administrative functions to the local level, thereby empowering elected gram panchayats. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the panchayati raj system at Nagaur on 2 October 1959. The date was chosen to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi 's birthday. Gandhi envisioned Gram Swaraj through the panchayati raj system. The system
160-579: A location in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gram panchayat Gram Panchayat ( transl. 'village council' ) is a basic governing institution in Indian villages. It is a political institution, acting as the cabinet of a village or group of villages. The Gram Sabha works as the general body of the Gram Panchayat. The members of
200-404: A neglected area of administrative reform. The Royal Commission on Decentralization (1907), chaired by Sir H. W. Primrose, recognized the importance of panchayats at the village level. The commission recommended that 'it is most desirable, both in the interests of decentralization and to involve the people in the local administration tasks, to attempt to constitute and develop village panchayats for
240-531: Is divided into wards and each ward is represented by a Ward Member or Commissioner, also referred to as a Panch or Panchayat Member, who is directly elected by the villagers. The Panchayat is chaired by the president of the village, known as a Sarpanch . The term of the elected representatives is five years. The Secretary of the Panchayat is a non-elected representative, appointed by the state government, to oversee Panchayat activities. According to Section. 6 (3) of
280-418: Is notoriously crime prone (partly shown in this map). The Ganges has a tendency to change course frequently, causing severe erosion , mostly along the southern bank. The historic city of Murshidabad , a centre of major tourist attraction, is located in this area. In 1717, when Murshid Quli Khan became Subahdar , he made Murshidabad the capital of Subah Bangla (then Bengal, Bihar and Odisha). The entire area
320-409: Is overwhelmingly rural with over 90% of the population living in the rural areas. Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivisions. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. According to the 2011 Census of India , Bhagirathpur had a total population of 10,125, of which 5,147 (51%) were males and 4,978 (49%) were females. Population in
360-561: The Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act of 1994 , that state's gram sabha has to conduct a meeting at least twice a year. Gram Panchayat elections in India occur every five years. The village is divided into wards, and people in each ward vote for their representative. These elected members, along with the president ( sarpanch ) and vice president, form the Gram Panchayat. The president (sarpanch) and vice president (upa-sarpanch) in
400-558: The Lalbag subdivision is spread across both the natural physiographic regions of the district, Rarh and Bagri, the Domkal subdivision occupies the north-eastern corner of Bagri. In the map alongside, the Ganges / Padma River flows along the northern portion. The border with Bangladesh can be seen in the north and the east. Murshidabad district shares with Bangladesh a porous international border which
440-480: The Constitution re-introduced panchayats as the institutions of local self-governance, with a basic structure for operations at three administrative levels; villages, groups of villages and districts. Gram Panchayats are at the lowest level of Panchayat Raj institutions (PRIs), whose legal authority is the 73rd Constitutional Amendment of 1992, which is concerned with rural local governments. The Gram Panchayat
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#1732859391382480-511: The Panchayat Raj system has three tiers: Zila Parishad , at the district level; Panchayat Samiti , at the block level; and Gram Panchayat, at the village level. Rajasthan was the first state to establish Gram Panchayat, Bagdari Village, Nagaur District being the first village where Gram Panchayat was established, on 2 October 1959. In 1992, the institution of Gram Panchayat was modified in order to deepen democracy. The 73rd Amendment to
520-622: The Patwari and the Darogha, which are part of our folklore, contributed to the worst famine in Bengal, with its effects lingering until the end of the 18th century. These measures completely disempowered the village community and destroyed the panchayat. After 1857, the British attempted to restore the panchayat by granting it powers to try minor offences and resolve village disputes, but these measures did not restore
560-485: The administration of local village affairs.' However, the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) introduced local self-government as a provincial transferred subject, coming under the domain of Indian ministers in the provinces. Due to organizational and fiscal constraints, the reforms were unable to make panchayat institutions truly democratic and vibrant. Nevertheless, a significant development of this period
600-554: The adoption of the parliamentary model of politics. During the drafting of the Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj Institutions were included in the non-justiciable part of the Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy , as Article 40. This Article stated, 'The State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.' However, no substantial legislation
640-410: The age range 0–6 years was 1,081. The total number of literate persons in Bhagirathpur was 6,792 (75.10% of the population over 6 years). Bhagirathpur High School is a Bengali medium co-educational higher secondary school established in 1896. It has a library of 3,500 books and has 15 computers. Bhagirathpur Block Primary Health Centre at Bhagirathpur functions with 10 beds. This article about
680-462: The block level, and a Gram Panchayat at the village level. The next major change in the panchayat system of India came with the passage of the Panchayati Raj Act (73rd Amendment) in 1992. A key motivation behind this act was the belief that local governments could be more effective than centrally appointed bureaucrats in identifying and responding to the needs of villages. Consequently, this act
720-522: The central government on different aspects of decentralization. To advance the Gandhian goal of direct political participation at the grassroots level, the National Development Council appointed a committee under Balwant Rai Mehta in 1957. The committee submitted its report in 1958, recommending a three-tier structure consisting of a Zila Parishad at the district level, a Panchayat Samiti at
760-617: The evolution of panchayats in India . Elected provincial governments enacted legislation to further democratize local self-government institutions. However, the system of responsible government at the grassroots level was notably ineffective. D. P. Mishra, the then minister for local self-government under the Government of India Act of 1935 in the Central Provinces, observed that "the working of our local bodies ... in our province and perhaps in
800-403: The extra-constitutional khap panchayats (or caste panchayats) found in parts of northern India. Mahatma Gandhi advocated for panchayat raj as the foundation of India's political system. It was envisioned as a decentralized form of government, where each village would be responsible for its own affairs. This vision was termed Gram Swaraj ("village self-governance"). While India developed
840-488: The financial powers of the Panchayats. Thus, in theory, Panchayats have been given sufficient authority to function as institutions of self-governance and promote social justice. There have been several positive effects of this amendment, some of which are listed above. However, there is also evidence of deeply ingrained vote-trading structures maintained through extra-political means. This issue can potentially be attributed to
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#1732859391382880-470: The focal point of rural governance. The British were not concerned with decentralized democracy but were pursuing colonial objectives. From the 1920s to 1947, the Indian National Congress emphasized the issue of all-India Swaraj and organized movements for independence under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. As a result, the task of preparing a blueprint for local governance was neglected. There
920-460: The gram panchayat are elected directly by the people. The gram panchayat is headed by an elected President and Vice President, assisted by a Secretary who serves as the administrative head of the panchayat. The president of a gram panchayat is known as a "Pradhan" or " Sarpanch " in Northern India . There are about 250,000 gram panchayats present in India. Established in various states of India,
960-421: The local community. These assemblies resolved disputes between individuals and villages. However, there were various forms of such assemblies. The leader of the panchayat was often called the president, mukhiya , sarpanch , or pradhan , which was an elected or generally acknowledged position. The modern panchayati raj system of India and its gram panchayats should not be confused with the traditional system or
1000-409: The local rulers. They did not interfere with existing panchayati systems or encourage rulers to consider more democratic institutions at the local level. The rulers were interested in creating 'controlled' local bodies that could assist in their trading interests by collecting taxes on their behalf. When the colonial administration faced severe financial pressure after the 1857 uprising, decentralization
1040-552: The lost powers of the village community. From 1870, when Lord Mayo 's Resolution on decentralization aimed to improve administrative efficiency, meet public demands, and bolster colonial finances, there was significant impetus for the development of local institutions. This resolution was a landmark in the evolution of colonial policy towards local government. However, the real benchmark for government policy on decentralization can be attributed to Lord Ripon. In his famous resolution on local self-government on 18 May 1882, Ripon addressed
1080-581: The people in Plan processes, including formulation, implementation, and monitoring. The Second Five-Year Plan aimed to cover the entire countryside through National Extension Service Blocks, utilizing Block Development Officers, Assistant Development Officers, Village Level Workers, as well as nominated representatives of village panchayats and other popular organizations like cooperative societies. However, this plan did not satisfactorily accomplish decentralization. Consequently, various committees were constituted to advise
1120-415: The produce, and paid the government's share on behalf of the village. Above these village councils, a larger panchayat or council existed to supervise and intervene if necessary. However, casteism and the feudalistic system of governance under Mughal rule during the medieval period gradually eroded self-government in villages. A new class of feudal chiefs and revenue collectors ( zamindars ) emerged between
1160-823: The ruler and the people, leading to the stagnation and decline of self-government in villages. A detailed account of how a medieval South Indian village council functioned is carved into a temple wall in Uthiramerur , a village in Tamil Nadu , approximately 85 kilometers (53 miles) west of Chennai . Thirty council members were chosen by lot, a form of sortition . Males were eligible for selection if they were of good character and met certain requirements based on landholdings and knowledge of Hindu scriptures. They were then assigned to various committees responsible for irrigation works, gardens, and other matters. The British were generally not concerned with local administration, leaving that to
1200-674: The seats for women, as well as reserving seats for scheduled castes and tribes . Panchayati raj The Panchayat raj is a political system originating from the Indian subcontinent , primarily found in India and neighboring countries Pakistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka , and Nepal . It is one of the oldest systems of local government in the Indian subcontinent, with historical mentions dating back to around 250 CE. The word 'raj' means 'rule,' and panchayat' means 'assembly' ( ayat ) of 'five' ( panch ). Traditionally, panchayats consisted of wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by
1240-494: The twin considerations of administrative efficiency and political education. The Ripon Resolution, which focused on towns, provided for local bodies consisting of a large majority of elected non-official members and presided over by a non-official chairperson. This resolution faced resistance from colonial administrators, and the progress of local self-government was slow, with only half-hearted efforts made in setting up municipal bodies. Rural decentralization , in particular, remained
Bhagirathpur - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-553: The village land record office and established a company official called the Patwari, who became the official record keeper for multiple villages. Second, it created the office of magistrate and abolished the village police. The magistrate performed policing functions through the Darogha , who had always been a state functionary under the Faujdar. The primary purpose of these measures was the collection of land revenue by decree. The depredations of
1320-546: The whole country presents a tragic picture ... 'Inefficiency' and 'local body' have become synonymous terms." Despite various committees such as the Royal Commission on Decentralization (1907), the Montagu-Chelmsford Report on constitutional reform (1919), and the Government of India Resolution (1919), a hierarchical administrative structure based on supervision and control evolved. The administrator became
1360-427: Was a significant step in India's move towards decentralization. The main features of this act are: (a) a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all states with a population of over 20 lakh; (b) regular Panchayat elections every five years; (c) reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes , and women (not less than one-third of the seats); and (d) the appointment of a State Finance Commission to recommend
1400-550: Was enacted at either the national or state level to implement it. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Panchayati Raj system at Nagaur , Rajasthan, on 2 October 1959, to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi 's birthday. Gandhi had envisioned Gram Swaraj through Panchayati Raj. Rajasthan was the first state to implement it. Nehru also inaugurated Panchayati Raj in Andhra Pradesh on 11 October 1959, on the occasion of Dussehra . The system
1440-462: Was gradually established across India. In the four decades since the adoption of the Constitution , panchayat raj institutions have evolved from being part of the non-justiciable Directive Principles to acquiring a new status through a separate constitutional amendment. Panchayat raj went through various stages. The First Five-Year Plan failed to achieve active participation and involvement of
1480-461: Was later modified in 1992. The Hindu text Rigveda (1700 BCE) provides evidence suggesting that self-governing village bodies called sabhas existed. Over time, these bodies evolved into panchayats (five-person councils). Panchayats were functional institutions of grassroots governance in almost every village. The village panchayat or elected council had significant powers, both executive and judicial. It distributed land, collected taxes from
1520-487: Was no consensus among the top leaders regarding the status and role of rural local self-government, leading to divergent views on the subject. Gandhi favored Village Swaraj and aimed to strengthen the village panchayat to the fullest extent, while Dr. B.R. Ambedkar opposed this idea. He viewed the village as a symbol of regressive India and a source of oppression, believing that the model state needed safeguards against such social oppression, which could only be achieved through
1560-534: Was pursued by transferring responsibility for road and public works to local bodies. However, this 'compelled' decentralization primarily focused on municipal administration. The panchayat was dismantled by the East India Company when it was granted the office of Diwan in 1765 in Bengal by the nawab, as part of reparation following his defeat at Buxar. As Diwan, the Company made two key decisions. First, it abolished
1600-437: Was the 'establishment of village panchayats in several provinces, which were no longer mere ad hoc judicial tribunals but representative institutions symbolizing the corporate character of the village and having wide jurisdiction over civic matters.' By 1925, eight provinces had enacted panchayat acts, and by 1926, six native states had also passed panchayat laws. Provincial autonomy under the Government of India Act, 1935, marked
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