Write a letter to a friend who has gone abroad for higher studies, telling him about the Panchayat elections.

Write a letter to a friend who has gone abroad for higher studies, telling him about the Panchayat elections which have recently taken place in your area and giving him an idea of how the Panchayati Raj bodies are functioning under the new system.

Examination Hall.

October 15,……..

Dear Rawalron,

Many thanks for your affectionate letter of the 5th ultimo. I am sorry, I could not write to you well in time as I was busy in connection with the Panchayati Elections in our State, in which I had to function as the District Returning Officer.

As you know, Panchayats, or the tiny village republics with their Gramsabhas, Nyayapanchayats, and the like have been an integral part of the Indian polity and have survived despite centuries of colonial rule and the several invasions that took place in the preceding centuries. The modern-day Panchayati Raj has been introduced under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and is called Power to the People System.

The recent Panchayat Elections have brought about far-reaching changes in the Indian polity and the attitude of the masses, who have now started identifying themselves with the administration. Previously, it was alleged that the State Government in the Punjab had been imposed from above, as not more than 10% of people had taken part in the assembly elections. The Panchayati Raj elections, in which the Congress Party has won with a thumping majority, has given due legitimacy to the Congress government in the State. In the second place, 33% of posts have gone to the women, and the voices of young and old ladies are now being increasingly heard in the Panchayat Meetings and given a respectful hearing. Third, the so-called low caste people and members of the backward castes have also received due representation and Panchayats have become the grassroots institutions of our democratic system.

The increasing number of delegates in the conference of Panchayat from different organisations truly heralded the advent of a second Swaraj. At the historic meet, both the President of India and the Prime Minister brought into sharp focus the new responsibilities lying ahead before the mammoth 50-lakh panchayat officials and members.

A 19-point charter of recommendations was adopted by the Delhi Conference. A cardinal feature of the recommendations is that the three-tier Panchayat system would not just remain a pure deliberative body. Instead, each tier should be given authority, finances and administrative back up to function effectively. The Panchayats would be delegated not only greater authority but also provided funds by the State. Their charter also recommends that they should be authorized to raise their own resources as well.

The Panchayati Raj offers us a chance to plan the future at the grassroots level involving all those whose day-to-day support is a must for our polity and economy whose fruits must reach all and whose roots must reach deep to benefit the last man in the last row.

I hope, you will find the previous description of our experiment with Panchayati Raj quite interesting. You have written about your proposed visit to Singapore. Whenever that materializes, please do break a journey here for a couple of days.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

(X)