Important Committees for Different Exams

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee - 1957

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended the following:

• Panchayati Raj

  The committee recommended establishing a three-tier Panchayati Raj system, which is a rural local self-government system:

  • Gram Panchayat: At the village level

  • Panchayat Samiti: At the block level

  • Zila Parishad: At the district level

• Responsibilities

  The committee recommended that these bodies be responsible for all planning and development activities.

• Election

  The committee recommended that village panchayat representatives be directly elected, while Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad members be indirectly elected.

• Resources

  The committee recommended that adequate resources be transferred to these bodies to enable them to discharge their functions.

• Representation

  The committee recommended that there be proper representation of the SC, ST, and OBCs.

• Democratic decentralization

  The committee recommended democratic decentralization of power.

The National Development Council approved the committee's recommendations in 1958. The 73rd amendment act of 1992 constitutionalized the Panchayati Raj system in India.

Appointed in December 1977, the Ashok Mehta Committee was tasked with reviving and strengthening the declining Panchayati Raj system. The committee proposed a two-tier system, replacing the three-tier structure, with Zila Parishads at the district level and Mandal Panchayats below it. It recommended that Zila Parishads should be responsible for planning at the district level and that political parties should officially participate in Panchayat elections. The committee also called for a regular social audit and constitutional recognition of PRIs to ensure their continuous functioning.

The Ashok Mehta Committee was the committee that recommended the creation of Nyaya Panchayats in India in 1977. The committee also recommended replacing the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with a two-tier system.

A Nyaya Panchayat is a village-level dispute resolution system in India's panchayati raj system. The primary goal of a Nyaya Panchayat is to provide quick and low-cost justice for minor civil and criminal disputes. Nyaya Panchayats have the following characteristics:

• Dispute resolution: The disputants explain their sides to the Panchayat members.

• Fines: Nyaya Panchayats can raise small fines, but they cannot imprison people.

• Jurisdiction: Nyaya Panchayats have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases, claims, and issues within their geographical territory.

• Appeal: If either party is dissatisfied, they can appeal to the District or High Court.

Nyaya Panchayats are considered an extension of the formal court system to remote areas. However, some say that the British-inspired legal system is not well suited to the Indian people's preferences for simple, conciliatory processes

Ashok Mehta Committee - 1977

G.V.K Rao Committee - 1985

The G.V.K. Rao Committee was a committee appointed by the Planning Commission of India in 1985 to review the existing administrative arrangements for rural development and poverty alleviation programs. The committee was chaired by G.V.K. Rao and its report was published in 1986. The committee's recommendations included:

• Strengthening the Panchayati Raj system

• Making the Zila Parishad the principal body for managing development programs

• Assigning an important role to Panchayati Raj institutions at the district and lower levels

• Appointing a District Development Commissioner to serve as the Zilla Parishad's CEO

• Making the “district” as the basic unit of planning

• Holding regular elections

The committee recognized that development was not seen at the grassroots level due to bureaucratisation

L.M. Singhvi Committee - 1986

The L.M. Singhvi Committee was formed in 1986 by the then Rajiv Gandhi government to recommend ways to revitalize India's Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The committee's recommendations included:

• Constitutional recognition

  The committee recommended that the PRIs should be constitutionally recognized and protected, and that a new chapter be added to the Constitution to define their powers and functions.

• Free and fair elections

  The committee recommended that regular, free, and fair elections be held for the PRIs.

• Judicial tribunals

  The committee recommended that judicial tribunals be established in each state to adjudicate matters related to the PRIs, including elections and dissolution.

• Village reorganization

  The committee recommended reorganizing villages to make Gram Panchayats more viable.

• Financial resources

  The committee recommended that village panchayats should have more financial resources for their activities.

• Gram Sabha

  The committee emphasized the importance of the Gram Sabha, calling it the "Embodiment of Direct Democracy".

• Government acknowledgement

  The committee recommended that the government should acknowledge, maintain, and perpetuate the PRIs.

Mohan Kanda Committee - 2011

The Mohan Kanda Committee: A Catalyst for Agricultural Reform in Andhra Pradesh

In the realm of agricultural policy and farmer welfare, few committees have made as significant an impact as the Mohan Kanda Committee in Andhra Pradesh, India. Established amidst a crisis of crop holidays declared by farmers, the committee's recommendations have been a cornerstone for change and improvement in the agricultural sector of the state.

The committee, led by the former chief secretary Mohan Kanda, was tasked with investigating the underlying issues that led to the widespread declaration of crop holidays by farmers in coastal Andhra and parts of Telangana. The crop holiday movement was a form of protest by farmers against inadequate support prices for their produce and other systemic issues plaguing the agricultural infrastructure.

Upon thorough investigation, the Mohan Kanda Committee put forth a series of recommendations aimed at addressing the core concerns of the farmers. These included the repair and maintenance of agricultural canals, the synchronization of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) with agricultural operations, and the implementation of agriculture insurance schemes in affected districts.

One of the pivotal recommendations was the closure of canals between April 15 and May 15 for repairs, which was a primary demand of the crop holiday farmers. This move was aimed at ensuring better water management and preventing the flooding of fields, which had been a significant issue for the farmers in the region.

The committee also addressed the critical issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP), urging the state government to advocate for an increase in MSP by Rs.200 per quintal with the central government. While MSP is under the purview of the central government, the state's proactive approach in this matter highlighted its commitment to supporting the farmers' welfare.

Furthermore, the committee's recommendations extended to the construction of additional godowns to enhance storage capacity, the establishment of Agriculture Service Centres to promote mechanization, and the improvement of oil palm crops to reduce imports.

The acceptance and implementation of the Mohan Kanda Committee's recommendations by the state government marked a significant step towards resolving the grievances of the farmers. It demonstrated a collaborative effort between the government and the agricultural community to create a sustainable and prosperous future for farming in Andhra Pradesh.

The impact of the Mohan Kanda Committee's work serves as a testament to the importance of informed policy-making and the need for continuous dialogue between governments and the communities they serve. It is a reminder that when faced with challenges, thoughtful and comprehensive solutions can pave the way for positive change and development.

For more detailed insights into the committee's findings and the subsequent actions taken by the government, readers can explore the comprehensive report and the related news coverage. The story of the Mohan Kanda Committee is not just about agricultural reform; it's about the resilience and advocacy of a community determined to see a brighter future for their livelihoods.