The G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed by the Government of India in 1985 to review the functioning of the Panchayati Raj system in India and suggest measures to improve its effectiveness. The committee was named after its chairman, G.V.K. Rao, who was a retired civil servant and a respected expert on rural development.
The committee submitted its report in 1986, which made several recommendations for strengthening and empowering the Panchayati Raj system in India. Some of the key recommendations were:
- Establishment of a three-tier system of PRIs, with gram panchayats at the village level, mandal (or block) panchayats at the intermediate level, and zilla (or district) panchayats at the district level.
- Devolution of powers and functions to the PRIs, including planning and implementation of economic development programs, provision of basic services like health and education, and management of local resources and infrastructure.
- Ensuring greater participation of women and marginalized groups in the PRIs, through reservations and other affirmative action measures, and providing them with training and capacity-building support.
- Establishing a system of regular elections to the PRIs, and providing them with adequate financial resources and administrative support to carry out their functions effectively.
The recommendations of the G.V.K. Rao Committee were influential in shaping the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, which was passed in 1992 and provided a legal framework for the establishment and functioning of PRIs in India. The amendment mandated the establishment of a three-tier system of PRIs and devolution of powers and functions to them, and provided for the reservation of seats for women and marginalized groups in the PRIs.
