G.V.K. Rao Committee

The G.V.K Rao committee was appointed by the planning commission in the year 1985 to review the administrative set-up relating to rural development. 

Important findings by the Committee

• The committee highlighted that the developmental process was gradually bureaucratised and was devoid from the Panchayati Raj. 
• This phenomena of bureaucratisation of development administration as against the democratisation, weakened the Panchayati Raj  institutions resulting in what is called as “grass without roots”.

Recommendations for Strengthening Panchayati Raj

• Role of Zilla Parishad: Zilla parishad should become the principal body for management of all development programmes which can be handled at the district level. A part of planning-related functions at the state level  should be transferred to the district level.
• District Development Commissioner: New post of the District Development Commissioner should be created and it shall be bestowed with all developmental responsibilities at the district level.
• Regular elections: Elections to local bodies should be conducted regularly.
• Devolution of powers and resources: Adequate powers and financial resources should be made available to the local bodies. 

Laxmimal  Singhvi Committee

The LM Singhvi Committee was formed by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986. The objective of the committee was to revive the Panchayati Raj Institutions. In this regard, the committee made the following recommendations:

• Constitutional status: Local bodies should be given constitutional status.
• Regular elections: Constitutional provisions should be made to regularise the Panchayat elections.
• Nyaya Panchayats: Nyaya Panchayat should be established for a group of villages. Nyaya Panchayat should be given the task of mediation and dealing with related issues.
• Tribunal for Panchayats: Panchayati Raj Judicial Tribunal should be established in each state to deal with matters relating to the functioning of Panchayati Raj.
• Devolution of resources: Adequate financial resources should be made available for the effective functioning of Panchayats.

Sarkaria Commission

The Sarkaria Commission of 1983, which was mainly concerned with Centre-State relations, had also recommended strengthening the local bodies in terms of funds, functions and functionaries. The commission suggested conducting Panchayat elections regularly and compulsorily.

PK Thungan Committee

In 1988, a sub-committee of the consultative committee of the Parliament was formed on local self-government under the chairmanship of PK Thungan. The committee made following recommendations to strengthen local self-government:

• Constitutional Status: Constitutional recognition should be given to Panchayati Raj Institutions. There should be a constitutional list of subjects related to Panchayati Raj.
• Three-tier system: Three-tier Panchayati Raj system with Panchayats at the village, Taluk/Tehsil, and District level.
• Chief unit of planning: The Zilla Parishad should be the main planning and development agency at the district level.
• Tenure: The tenure of Panchayati Raj Institutions should be fixed at five years.
• The planning and coordination committee: The planning and coordination committee should be constituted at the state level under the chairmanship of the planning minister. The Chairmen/Presidents of the Zilla Parishads should be its members.
• Reservation: At each level of Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be given reservations in proportion to their population. Women should also be given the reservation.
• CEO: The District Collector should be made the Chief Executive officer of the Zilla Parishad.
• State Finance Commission: The State Finance Commission should be constituted in each state.

Constitutionalize Panchayati Raj Institutions

Rajiv Gandhi Government

The Rajiv Gandhi Government introduced the 64th constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha in July 1989. The objective of the amendment was to constitutionalise Panchayati Raj institutions. Though the Lok Sabha passed the bill in 1989, it failed to be approved in the Rajya Sabha. The bill was strongly opposed by the opposition parties on the ground that it sought to strengthen centralisation in the federal system.

VP Singh Government

The VP Singh government after coming to power in June 1990, approved proposals for the introduction of a fresh constitutional amendment bill. Later, a constitutional amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in September 1990. However, the fall of the government resulted in the lapse of the bill.

Narasimha Rao Government

The matter of constitutionalization of the Panchayati Raj institutions was again taken up under the Prime ministership of P. V. Narasimha Rao. The then government modified the controversial aspects of the bill and introduced the constitution amendment bill related to Panchayats in the Lok Sabha in September 1991. The bill was finally passed by both the houses of the Parliament and emerged as the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. It came into force on the 24th April 1993.