(1)Every Grama Panchayat shall constitute the following committees by election:-(i)Production Committee for performing functions relating to agricultural production, animal husbandry and rural industries and poverty alleviation programes;(ii)a Social Justice Committee for performing functions relating to,-(a)promotion of educational, economic, social, cultural and other interest of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes;(b)protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of exploitation;(c)welfare of Woman and Children;(iii)an Amenities Committee to perform functions in respect of education, public health, public works and other functions of the Grama Panchayat.(1A)[ Election of members of standing committee shall be held as soon as may be after the general election of members of Grama Panchatyat or on its reconstitution or establishment under this Act or immediately before the expiry of term of office of the members of the Standing Committee.(1B)The term of office of every member of the Standing Committee shall, save as otherwise provided in this Act be thirty months from the date of the election or till he ceases to be a member of the Grama Panchayat, whichever is earlier.] [Section 1A and 1B Inserted by Act 8 of 2000 w.e.f. 3.4.2000.](2)(a)Each Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members including the Adhyaksha and Upadhyaksha as the case may be. The Adhyaksha shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of Production Committee and Amenities Committee. The Upadhyaksha shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of the Social Justice Committee:Provided that the Social Justice Committee shall consist of at least one member who is a woman and one member belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.(b)Each Committee shall be competent to co-opt in such manner as may be prescribed, members of farmers clubs, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and other similar bodies recognised by the Government. A representative of co-operative societies in the panchayat area shall be co-opted to the Production Committee. The rights and liabilities of the co-opted members shall be such as may be prescribed.(3)The Standing Committees shall perform the functions referred to above to the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Grama Panchayat.
