(i) A Local Government is very important. The aim of the local bodies is to solve the local problems by cooperation and without depending upon others.
(ii) Only the local people know their problems and for meeting their needs, it is the local government it takes interest.
(iii) It also finishes the work with speed and with least expenditure.
(iv) The local government also lightens the work of the Central and State Governments.
(v) It also provides training of administration to the people at lower levels.

(i) Generally, the Panch and Sarpanch are uneducated and so, they are not able to act very wisely. The Panchs are often elected on the basis of groupism in villages so, they cannot act impartially.
(ii) Most of the villagers are illiterate and they do not understand the importance of their votes.
(iii) The sources of income of the village bodies under the Panchayati Raj are not adequate. Such causes have led towards the fail use of the Panchayat Raj system.

(i) The Nyaya Panchayat has the power to settle only minor and criminal cases such as thefts, gambling, simple injury, etc.
(ii) It can impose a fine of up to one hundred rupees.
(iii) It cannot send any person to jail. It also resolves disputes relating to custody and maintenance of children and dependants.
(iv) The cases tried by the Nyaya Panchayat are decided quickly in an inexpensive manner.

Every Panchayat Samiti elects two of its members as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Their tenure of office is for five years. They can be removed by the Panchayat Samiti members by passing a resolution supported by 2/3^rd majority. Seats for the post of Chairman are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. They make development plans for Gram Panchayat and they also regulate the money distribution among all the Gram Panchayat.

The first Below Poverty Line list was passed in the Rajya Sabha on December, 21^st 1978 by the Prime Minister. BPL was based on the rupee value of a specified nutritional requirement. The cost of the grain that fulfils this nutritional standard was calculated. This cost was the poverty line.

The main functions of the Village Panchayat are construction and repairing of village roads, arrangement of street lightening, maintenance of public wells, tanks and supply of drinking water, cleaning of streets and sanitation. Other works include maintenance of public places, collection of rents, etc.

The main sources of income of the Village Panchayats are the collection of taxes on houses, market places, etc, as well as government scheme funds received through various departments of the government through the Janpad and Zila Panchayats, donations for community works etc.

(i) The main function of the Zila Parishad is to coordinate all the activities of the Panchayati Raj.
(ii) It gives advice to the State Government on the work of the Panchayats and the Samitis.
(iii) It prepares plans for its district's development.

(i) Local government develops the feeling of self reliance among the local people.
(ii) It develops initiative and spirit of cooperation. It trains local people in running the Central and the State administration.
(iii) It finishes the local work with speed and with minimum expenditure.

(i) The Gram Sabha is the key factor in making the Gram Panchayat a responsible local body.
(ii) It prevents the Village Panchayat from doing wrong things like misusing money.
(iii) It plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected members.

The main sources of income of the Gram Panchayats are the property taxes levied on the buildings and open spaces within the villages. Other sources of income include professional tax, taxes on pilgrimage, animal trade, etc.

The elected members of the Gram Panchayat elect from among themselves a Sarpanch and a Deputy Sarpanch for a term of five years.

The Sarpanch is the head of the Gram Panchayat

The members of the Village Panchayat are elected by the people of the concerned village. The village with a population of at least 500 people has a Gram Panchayat

The literal meaning of 'Panchayat' is a committee of five persons.

The three organs of Village Panchayat are Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat and Nyaya Panchayat.

Panchayati Raj System helps in strengthening the democracy at the grass-root level. It has twin objectives:
Democratic, decentralisation and local participation.

The Panchs of the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha because its members are elected by the Gram Sabha.

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.

The main objective of Village Panchayat is to improve the conditions of the villagers and to make them self-sufficient.

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.

(i) Zila Parishad or District Panchayat is the apex body of the Panchayati Raj System.
(ii) It examines and approves the budget of Panchayat Samitis in the district.
(iii) It issues directions to the Panchayat Samitis for efficient performance of their functions and Coordinates development plans prepared by the Panchayat Samitis.
(iv) It distributes funds allocated by the State government to the Panchayat Samitis in the district.
(v) It collects statistics related to the activities of the local authorities in the district.

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.