Panchayati Raj, for Gram Swaraj. Local self-government. Council of five (metaphorically speaking) panches, leaders. One (Gram Sabha) plus three tiers – Gram Panchayat (ward panches, council, and sarpanch), Panchayat Samiti-Parishad (territorial council members/sarpanches, council, and president), Zilla Panchayat-Parishad (territorial council members/sarpanches, council, and chairperson). In all states and Union Territories with population exceeding two million, except Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Delhi. With 29 subjects listed under the eleventh schedule of the Constitution, under their governance. Elections every five years. Council heads could be elected indirectly, or directly. Councils may also have subject-specific standing committees. MLAs and/or MPs co-opted into Council as ex-officio members. Provision for nominating additional members into Councils. Councils may also co-opt additional members from SC, ST, OBC and women. District Planning Committees are also included. There is reservation of one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Also, for SC, ST and OBC. Funds to PRIs are devolved under the Finance Commission. Some of these come from the Central Government. And some from the State Governments. PRIs can raise taxes on certain items, and raise revenues in various other ways including through offering services, doing businesses.
The fundamental unit here is Gram Sabha, a permanent assembly of the village, a defined statutory body under the Constitution. The highest decision-making body. It comprises all adults, over 18 years, registered as voters. It acts as a legislative body and supervises Gram Panchayat. It expresses the will of the people on matters that pertain to them. It meets as often as required; typically four times a year; but not less than twice. Gram Sabha may have Palle Sabhas, Ward Sabhas for habitations, sub-locations within a GP; special assemblies for women, children – Mahila Sabhas; Bal Sabhas.
Book. Portable, durable, replicable, and legible means of recording and disseminating information – a structured presentation of recorded information – primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Physical, electronic, audio, and video. Manuscripts, handwritten and hand-copied documents, hardcover books, and paperbacks. Written work including drawings, engravings, photographs, puzzles, cartoons, etc., of substantial length. Fiction, non-fiction. Poetry, Novels, Story books, autobiographies, biographies, science-management-leadership notes, improvement books, reference books, almanacs, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, atlases, maps, handbooks, manuals, pocket books, etc. Sacred texts, religious texts, and prayer books. Some 150 million published books so far. There can be ‘empty’ books such as notebooks, accounts books, appointments, autographs, sketches, etc., for taking notes, data. There could be ‘notes’. Work books, Text books, Blue books for students. Children’s books, picture books. People who read books avidly are bibliophiles, bookworms. Places of books are libraries, book stores. UNESCO says: a book is 49+ page non-periodical for public.
Intellectual property (IP) – creations of the mind – inventions, literary-artistic works, symbols, names, and images; protected by patents, copyright, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, etc.; IP rights balance creators’ interests and public interest. Open source, creative commons allow free use of the creative products, services, processes etc., with due attribution to the creators.
Can we fully commit to local governance? Can we be in 7R world, being open, common?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Being useful. In N? srjanaatmayoga for 7L.