Soorajmal kept quiet because Amirchand was sitting in the Gram Sabha keeping an eye on everyone. He knew the power and influence of Amirchand.

In my locality, Panchayat has taken up repairs of drains.
(a) It was taken up because the drains were in damaged condition. Dirty water was spreading on to the streets and busy roads.
(b) The money came from taxes, funds, grants and donations.
(c) The work is in the process, it would be finished by the end of year.

A Panchayat Samiti is composed of elected members of the area and the Block Development Officer, otherwise unrepresented members, associate members and the elected members of that Panchayat Block on the Zila Parishad.

Panchayat Samiti is organised at block level. It consists of the heads of Gram Panchayats falling within its jurisdiction. The head of the Panchayat Samiti is known as Block Pramukh or Pradhan.

Two Village Panchs from Maharashtra were awarded the 'Nirmal Gram Purushkar' in 2005 for the excellent work done by them in the Panchayat.

A Village Panchayat is divided into wards. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member, also called Panch. All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect a Sarpanch who is called Panchayat President. The ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat. The tenure of the Gram Panchayat is five years.
The Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha have a common secretary. He is a person whom the government appoints. Thus, he is not an elected person. The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. He also keeps a record of the proceedings of the meetings.

(i)The village Panchs from Maharashtra are seen in the picture.
(ii)They were awarded with the Nirmal Gram Puruskar.
(iii)This award was given in 2005 for the excellent work done by them in the Panchayat.

Sarpanch has various responsibilities, Some of them are as follows :
(i) Looking after street lights, construction and repair work of the roads in the villages and also, village markets, fairs, festivals and celebrations.
(ii) Keeping a record of births, deaths and marriages in the village.
(iii) Looking after public health and hygiene by providing facilities for sanitation and drinking water.
(iv) Providing education, implementing development schemes for agriculture and animal husbandry.

In 1992, the Parliament amended the Constitution and formulated rules for the Panchayati Raj System. The States and the centre had to follow these rules from April, 1993 onwards. The rules are listed below:
(i) It should be a three-tier system at village level, the intermediate or block level and the district level.
(ii) Direct elections should be conducted for all the seats in the Panchayats.
(iii) The state should ensure representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in the area. Minimum of one-third of the total number of seats is to be reserved forwomen.
(iv) A member of Panchayat should not be less than 21 years of age.
(v) The State Election Commission should hold regular Panchayat elections.