Gramasabha
Grama Sabha / Ward Sabha
A voter of a ward in a village is a member of the Gram Sabha of that ward. Similarly, a voter of a ward in a municipality is a member of the Ward Sabha of that ward.
Ward Members are the Conveners of Gram Sabhas, while Ward Councillors are the Conveners of Ward Sabhas. However, if a Convener is unable to discharge his or her duties, the head of the Local Government Institution may appoint a member from an adjoining ward as the Convener of that ward.
The President of the Grama Panchayat shall preside over a Gram Sabha meeting, while the Municipal Chairperson shall preside over a Ward Sabha meeting. In a Grama Panchayat, in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. In the absence of both, the Convener shall preside. Similarly, in a municipality, in the absence of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson or the Standing Committee Chairperson nominated by the Chairperson shall preside, and in their absence, the Convener shall preside over the meeting.
The responsibility for convening the meetings rests with the Ward Member, who is also the Convener.
The quorum of a Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha is 10 percent of the total number of voters. However, when a meeting is adjourned due to the lack of quorum and reconvened subsequently, the quorum for such a meeting shall be 50 members.
If not less than 10 percent of the voters of a ward submit a written request, the Convener shall convene a special meeting of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha within 15 days.
An officer designated by the Grama Panchayat / Municipality shall function as the Coordinator of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha. The Coordinator shall assist the Convener in all activities related to the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.
Members have the right to submit questions and suggestions to be considered by the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha either before the meeting or during the meeting.
A resolution may be passed by a majority at the respective meeting on any matter that falls within the jurisdiction of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.
- Assist in collecting the information and details required for formulating development projects.
- Prepare and prioritize proposals for projects and development programmes to be implemented within the Grama Panchayat / Municipality area. Draft project proposals shall be printed and distributed at the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha, which shall examine them and determine their order of priority.
- Provide assistance, facilities, voluntary service, financial or material support, and mobilize resources for the effective implementation of development projects.
- Suggest locations for installing street lights, public water supply taps, public wells, public sanitation facilities, irrigation facilities, and other public utility projects.
- Obtain information regarding the estimates of works implemented or proposed to be implemented within the area of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha, including details of material costs. Such details shall be distributed at the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.
- Monitor and assist beneficiary committees undertaking development programmes.
- Collect detailed estimate information relating to works proposed to be implemented in the area.
