LOCAL GOVERNMENT Rural Local Government: PANCHAYATI RAJ The term Panchayti Raj in India signifies the system of rural local self-government. It has been established in all the states of India by the Acts of the State Legislatures to build democracy at the grass root level. It is entrusted with rural development. It was constituationlised through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992. A village or a group of villages, formed a panchayat of elected representatives, a few Panchayats formed a Panchayat Samiti and the various Panchayat Samities of a district were governed by a Zila Parishad and these three institutions had a three fold purpose : (i) to be autonomous and self governing to some extent. (ii) to play an effective role in drawing up the 5 year plans. (iii) to have scope for initiative and readjustment in implementing the plans to suit local needs. Evolution of Panchayati Raj • • The Narasimha Rao Government introduced the Constitutional Amendment...