ROLE PERFORMANCE OF PANCHAYAT RAJ FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FARMING AND RURAL COMMUNITY IN PUTTAPARTHI BLOCK OF ANANTAPUR DISTRICT, (A.P)

India, the largest democratic country, is agrarian in character. Its 76 percent population lives in villages and depends on agriculture for the development. Mehta (1957) reported that development cannot progress without responsibility and power. The Mehta committee recommended the scheme of democratic decentralization. The scheme of democratic decentralization is the form of a three-tier interconnected, interdependent democratic structure of rural local self-government at the village, block/manual and district level. Thematic Background The committee evolved some basic and fundamental principles for Panchayati Raj which is as follows: - • It should be a three-tier structure of local self-governing elected bodies and from village, to district, the bodies are to be organically linked up. • There should be a genuine transfer of power and responsibilities. • Adequate resources should be transferred to the new bodies to enable them to discharge these responsibilities. • All development programmes at these levels should be channeled through their bodies. • The system should be such as will facilitate further devolution and dispersal of powers and responsibilities in the coming future.