In the context of the mentioned questions with regard to the Panchayat Samiti the answers are given below:
(a) The Civic and Development functions of a Panchayat Samiti are as follows:
1. Rural Health Programme: By 31 March 2001, some 23,000 Primary Health centers and 3,043 Community Health centers had been set-up to provide medical care to the villagers.
2. Rural water supply, Rural Roads and Regulation of Markets: It is the responsibility of a Panchayat Samiti to meet the fundamental needs like—drinkingwater. Further, it gets built and maintain the rural roads and regulates the markets.
3. Functions relating to Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries: These comprise the provision of an improved variety of seeds and chemical fertilizers, distribution of pesticides and improved variety of agricultural implements.
4. Development of cottage Industries: To augment job opportunities, handlooms, handicrafts, and village industries have been promoted.
5. Social Welfare: Panchayat Samiti has to endeavor to promote the welfare of SCs and STs and other backward classes. Various programmes were implemented to bring about improvement in the status of women and children. ‘Anganwadis’ were set up in rural areas.
6. Rural Employment: A new self-employment programme, namely Swcirna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSR) was launched in 1999. It aims at establishing a large number of small enterprises in the rural areas.
(b) The Panchayat Samiti supervises the work of the Gram Panchayats. The Samiti examines the budget of the Panchayats. It exercises control over the functioning of Block Development officer and his assistants.