Gram Panchayat
      This is the first tier of the Panchayat System at the grass root level. One Gram Panchayat consists of few Gram Sabhas. So Gram Sabha is the basic unit of G.P. and one Gram Sabha is equivalent to one electoral role part. One Gram Sabha may return one or two members depending upon the total numbers of voters in the electoral roll part. One G.P. can have maximum 25 members out of which 1/3rd is reserved for women. Representative of SC & ST is also reserved as per their proportion of population.
      The head of the G.P. is known as Pradhan and his deputy is Upopradhan. Both should be a member of Gram Sabha and get support from majority members. Besides these two, other staffs of Gram Panchayat Office are one Secretary (Clerical staff), one Job Assistant on K.P.S. (Krishi Projukti Sahayak) from Agriculture Department, one Revenue Inspector from Land Records and few chowkidars.
      The Pradhan has the power of D.D.O. The Gram Panchayat office is responsible for implementing various socio-economic development schemes at the lowest level (grass root). These schemes are sponsored by both State Govt. and Central Govt. like IRDP, JRY, family planning, social forestry and so on. The programs like poverty alleviation and eradication of illiteracy, crisis management during the natural calamities such as flood, drought, etc. are also been executed by G.P. The GPs are supposed to mobilize resource collecting taxes.

Panchayat Samity
      Panchayat Samity is the second tier of Panchayat system. The jurisdiction of a Panchayat Samity is one Block Development Office area. Panchayat Samity consists of several GPs. One G.P. may have 2 or 3 members for P.S. depending upon the total number of voters of that G.P. Women members representation should not be less than 1/3rd of the total seats and members from SC & ST gets the requisite reservation in the Panchayat Samity.
      The Panchayat Samity is headed by "Sabhapati" and assisted by "Sahasabhapati". They must be the member of Panchayat Samity and elected by the majority members. Panchayat Samity is assisted by the many clerical staffs and Extension Officers of Block Development Office. B.D.O. is the Executive Officer of Panchayat Samity by virtue of its post.
      All development schemes at block level are planned and executed by the Panchayat Samity with the help of B.D.O. Sabhapati does not have the power of D.D.O. Block Development O fficer does the function of D.D.O. in the capacity of Executive Officer of Panchayat Samity. Panchayat Samity does the coordination between Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat. One of the major work of Panchayat Samity is preparing the Block Plan for various department's developmental schemes approved through Block Planning Committee of which Sabhapati is the Chairman and later on monitoring the implementation of those schemes.

Zilla Parishad
      Zilla Parishad is the 3rd and top tier of Panchayat system. Jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad is rural part of a whole district. Each block returns two members for Zilla Parishad. For Zilla Parishad also at least 1/3rd members must be from women and requisite number of SC & ST members as per their proportion of population. All the M.L.A. and M.P.s of the district are ex-officio members of Zilla Parishad.
      The Zilla Parishad body is formed with the "Sabhadhipati" as the head, "Saha Sabhadhipati" and few "Karmadhaksha" from the elected Zilla Parishad members. The District Magistrate is the Executive Officer who has the authority of D.D.O. functioning. One Addl. Executive Officer of the rank of A.D.M., one Secretary from senior WBCS(Ex.), one Accounts Officer from West Bengal Audit Accounts Service are deputed at Zilla Parishad helping administrative functioning. The Zilla Parishad has an Engineering wing headed by District Engineer of the rank of Executive Engineer and several sub-assistant Engineer to carry various construction works.
      Zilla Parishad have the responsibility of implementing various developmental schemes with the close coordination  with Panchayat Samity and Gram panchayat. Sabhadhipati is the Chairman for all District level committee meant for supervision  and monitoring of various State Govt. and Central Govt. sponsored projects. Sabhadhipati is the Chairman of District Planning Committee which approves the District Plan and send to Development & Planning Department for allocation of budget.

      Apart from these three tiers, the District Magistrate has a Panchayat section headed by the District Panchayat Officer which monitors the functioning of G.P. and Panchayat Samity. This office does the liaison with the Panchayat bodies and Directorate of Panchayat on various Government orders, notifications, etc.. This office has one staff at block level known as Extension Officer of Panchayat who helps the Panchayat section in communicating with the Panchayat bodies.


    Click for Zilla Parishad Page

    Click for Government Departments

    Click for Local Administration

    Click here for Rural Development Cell

    Click here for census reports on District Profile