Gramasabha
Gramasabha
The Foundational Unit of Decentralized Democratic Governance in Kerala
What is Gramasabha? Gramasabha functions as the fundamental unit of decentralized democratic governance at the village level in Kerala. It is constituted as per Section 3 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. Every registered voter residing in a specific Grama Panchayat constituency (ward) is a member of the Gramasabha of that ward.
Constitution and Membership
🏛️ Definition: Each electoral constituency (ward) of a Grama Panchayat is considered a "Village" for the purpose of the Gramasabha.
👥 Membership: Every individual whose name is included in the electoral roll of a ward is a member of that Gramasabha.
Meetings and Quorum
Gramasabha must convene at least once every three months.
Meetings are held at a venue determined by the Grama Panchayat.
A special meeting must be convened within 15 days if requested in writing by at least 10% of the members.
The required quorum for a meeting is 10% of the total voters in the ward.
In the absence of a quorum, an adjourned meeting can be conducted with a minimum presence of 50 members.
Representatives from the Block Panchayat, District Panchayat, and Legislative Assembly (MLA) must be officially invited to the meeting.
Key Powers and Functions
Development and Planning: Identifies beneficiaries for poverty alleviation and welfare programs and formulates local development plans.
Public Utilities: Recommends locations for streetlights, public taps, wells, sanitation facilities, and irrigation projects.
Audit and Monitoring: Evaluates the progress of development activities and verifies the eligibility of beneficiaries for welfare schemes.
Health and Sanitation: Cooperates with the Panchayat on water supply, street lighting, sanitation, and waste management.
Tribal Sub-Committee: A special sub-committee can be formed in wards with a minimum of 50 voters belonging to Scheduled Tribes.
Section 3 – Gramasabha (Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994)
For the purpose of this Chapter, each constituency of a Grama Panchayat may be specified as a village under clause (g) of Article 243 of the Constitution.
All persons whose names are included in the electoral roll relating to a village comprised within the area of a Grama Panchayat shall be deemed to constitute the Gramasabha of that village.
The Gramasabha shall meet at least once in three months at the place, date, and time fixed by the Convenor in consultation with the President of the Grama Panchayat. The Convenor shall inform the Gramasabha members of the meeting by public notice and shall compulsorily invite the Block Panchayat member, District Panchayat member, and Member of Legislative Assembly representing the area. However, if not less than ten percent of the members of a Gramasabha request in writing along with an agenda, the Convenor shall convene a special meeting within fifteen days; provided that such a special meeting shall be convened only once in the period between two ordinary meetings.
The Grama Panchayat member representing the constituency comprised in a village shall be the Convenor of that Gramasabha. If, for any reason, the Convenor is physically or otherwise unable to perform duties, the President may appoint a member representing an adjoining constituency as the Convenor.
The President of the Grama Panchayat, or in their absence the Vice President, or in the absence of both, the Convenor of the Gramasabha shall preside over any meeting of the Gramasabha.
The Grama Panchayat shall place before the first meeting of the Gramasabha in a year a report on the development programs of the previous year and those proposed for the current year, the estimated expenditure, a statement of annual accounts for the previous year, and an administrative report. If any decision of the Gramasabha could not be implemented under any circumstance, the presiding officer shall report the reasons to the Gramasabha.
Due consideration shall be given by Grama Panchayats, Block Panchayats, and District Panchayats to the recommendations or suggestions, if any, made by the Gramasabha.
Section 3A – Powers, Duties, and Rights of Gramasabha (Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994)
The Gramasabha shall perform the following powers and duties, subject to prescribed procedures:
(a) Assist in collecting and consolidating details required for formulating Panchayat development plans;
(b) Formulate proposals and suggest priorities for schemes and development programs to be implemented in the Grama Panchayat area;
(c) Prepare and submit the final prioritized list of eligible beneficiaries for beneficiary-oriented schemes to the Grama Panchayat based on set criteria;
(d) Provide assistance for effective implementation of development schemes by rendering local facilities;
(e) Mobilize voluntary service and contributions in cash or kind required for development schemes;
(f) Suggest location of streetlights, street/public water taps, public wells, public sanitation units, irrigation facilities, and other public utility projects;
(g) Formulate schemes to impart awareness on public interest matters like sanitation, environment protection, and pollution control, and offer protection against social evils like corruption and fraudulent transactions;
(h) Promote harmony and unity among different sections of people, and organize arts and sports meets to foster goodwill;
(i) Monitor and assist Beneficiary Committees conducting development activities in the ward;
(j) Verify the eligibility of persons receiving various welfare assistance from the Government, such as pensions and subsidies;
(k) Obtain information on detailed estimates of works proposed to be undertaken in the Gramasabha area;
(l) Obtain information regarding services to be rendered and activities planned by relevant officials in the upcoming three months;
(m) Know the rationale behind every decision taken by the Panchayat concerning the Gramasabha area;
(n) Know the follow-up action taken on Gramasabha decisions and detailed reasons if any decision has not been implemented;
(o) Cooperate with Grama Panchayat employees in sanitation activities and offer voluntary service for waste removal;
(p) Identify deficiencies in drinking water supply and street lighting systems and suggest remedial measures;
(q) Assist in the activities of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) in schools within the ward;
(r) Assist in public health activities, especially epidemic prevention and family welfare programs;
(s) Perform other duties as may be prescribed from time to time.
The Gramasabha shall discuss the report referred to in sub-section (6) of Section 3 at its ordinary meeting or a special meeting convened for this purpose. It has the right to know details regarding budgeted amounts, plan allocations, item-wise fund distribution, work estimates, and material costs for works implemented or proposed in its area.
Audit reports or performance audit reports coming under the consideration of the Gramasabha shall be discussed in the meeting, and its views, recommendations, and suggestions shall be communicated to the concerned Grama Panchayat.
The quorum for a Gramasabha shall be ten percent of the voters in that area, and the procedures for convening and conducting meetings shall be as prescribed. However, when an adjourned meeting is reconvened due to lack of quorum, the quorum for such a meeting shall be fifty.
Officers of the Grama Panchayat shall attend Gramasabha meetings as required by the President. The officer nominated by the Grama Panchayat as the Co-ordinator shall assist the Convenor in convening meetings, conducting them, recording decisions in the minutes book, and taking follow-up actions.
The Gramasabha may appoint, elect, or constitute general or special sub-committees for detailed discussions on issues and programs, effective implementation of projects and decisions, and enhancing its rights and responsibilities. Such committees must consist of not less than ten members, at least half of whom must be women.
Resolutions on any issue falling under the jurisdiction of the Gramasabha may be passed by a majority vote in its meeting; however, efforts shall be made to arrive at consensus decisions wherever possible.
When beneficiaries need to be selected under any scheme, project, or plan, the Panchayats shall determine the criteria for eligibility and priority order subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme, publish such criteria, and inform the Gramasabha.
After inviting applications and conducting inquiries, the Grama Panchayat shall provide a draft priority list of applicants in the Gramasabha area. The Gramasabha shall scrutinize this draft list in a meeting inviting the applicants, finalize the eligible list in order of priority, and forward it to the Grama Panchayat for approval. The Grama Panchayat shall not alter the priority order in the list approved by the Gramasabha.
Section 3B – Responsibilities of Gramasabha (Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994)
The Gramasabha shall have the following responsibilities:
(i) Disseminate information regarding development and welfare activities;
(ii) Participate in and campaign for health, literacy, and similar time-bound development programs;
(iii) Collect essential socio-economic baseline data;
(iv) Collect and provide information regarding the progress of development works;
(v) Adopt moral persuasion for payment of taxes, repayment of loans, improvement of environmental sanitation, and maintenance of social harmony;
(vi) Mobilize local resources to augment the financial resources of the Panchayat;
(vii) Supervise development activities as voluntary groups;
(viii) Setup early warning/reporting mechanisms during outbreaks of contagious diseases, natural disasters, etc.
The Gramasabha shall submit periodic reports to the Grama Panchayat regarding the matters mentioned in Section 3A.