29 Areas of Responsibility

Panchayat responsibilities. The "Eleventh Schedule" of the 73rd amendment specifies 29 areas of responsibility that states may devolve to the panchayats. Note: areas marked in bold are areas where independent observers have indicated that women bear primary responsibility.

• Agriculture, including agricultural extension

• Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation

• Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development

• Animal husbandry, dairy and poultry

• Fisheries

• Social forestry and farm forestry

• Minor forest produce

• Small scale industries, including food processing industries

• Khadi (homespun cloth), village and cottage industries

• Rural housing

• Drinking water

• Fuel and fodder

• Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication

• Rural electrification, including distribution of electricity

• Non-conventional energy sources

• Poverty alleviation programmes

• Education including primary and secondary schools

• Technical training and vocational education

• Adult and non-formal education

• Libraries

• Cultural activities

• Markets and fairs

• Health and sanitation, including hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries

• Family welfare

• Women and child development

• Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded

• Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes

• Public distribution system

• Maintenance of community assets