The panchayati raj ministry has sought information from states whether the Gram Sabhas are performing their role as envisaged in the 73rd amendment of the constitution.

Under the 73rd amendment to the Constitution aimed at strengthening local self-government and decentralisation in rural areas, the Gram Sabhas have been given immense power.

A Gram Sabha has the power to take a decision on any central government schemes under health education or employment guarantee.

The questions that the states have to answer are the following

General questions:

• Are issues related to Drinking Water / Sanitation Women related Issues, Primary Education, Nutrition, Immunization, Agriculture, Soil Conservation, Water, Forest, Selection of beneficiaries under Central and State Schemes, Social Audit, Food security, Village disaster plans discussed in Gram Sabha

• Are minutes of meeting of Gram Sabha recorded in a continuous prescribed register?

• Funding of cost for holding meetings of Gram Sabha

• Whether Gram Panchayats Act of States include special power for Gram Sabha under PESA areas

• Presence of officials from line departments in meetings of GS

Questions on MGNREGS:

• Whether gram pradhan ensures disclosure under above Scheme in meetings of Gram Sabha on following points

• Names of works with wages paid and material component.

• Names of persons who have worked, days worked and wages paid to each of them with UID.

• Quantity and price of materials purchased for each project and from whom.

• Whether Gram Sabha discusses execution of works done under MGNREGA as per scheduled priority stipulated under Act

Questions on Nutrition and Women & Child Health:

• Whether a special Gram Sabha meeting dedicated to Nutrition and related issues like

- Mainstreaming Nutrition in training of PRIs – especially EWRs and earmarking certain wards to them

- Supporting development of innovative district models run by PRIs in 200 high burdened districts

- Sharing best practices to support devolution of powers related to Nutrition programmes

Questions on ICDS:

• Whether AWWs, ANMs, ASHAs exhorted to attend meetings of Gram Sabha for providing details of nutritional services

• Whether Aanganwadi level monitoring and support committee on ICDS headed by ward member (preferably women members)

• Has circular been issued by States Department of Panchayati Raj?

Questions on Education:

• Whether a day designated to hold Special Gram Sabha on Right to Educatio

• Whether Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha take up the matter with guardians for sending their Wards to school regularl

• Whether Gram Sabha meeting discusses issues like – absent children and how to make them attend school regularly – Inadequacy of teachers and infrastructure – Mid-day Meal Scheme – Case of drop out particularly girl child