- [(1) A Gram Panchayat shall function as a unit of self-government and, in order to achieve economic development and secure social justice for all, shall, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed or such directions as may be given by the State Government, -(a)prepare a development plan for the five-year term of the office of the members and revise and update it as and when necessary with regard to the resources available;(b)prepare an annual plan for each year by the month of October of the preceding year for development of human resources, infrastructure and civic amenities in the area;(c)implement schemes for economic development and social justice as may be drawn up by, or entrusted upon it.](2)[] [Section 19 renumbered as sub-Section (2) of that Section and sub-Section (1) inserted by W.B. Act 18 of 1994.] [Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1) and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed or such directions as may be given by the State Government,] [Words, figure and brackets substituted for the words 'subject to such conditions as may be prescribed,' by W.B. Act 18 of 1994.] the duties of a Gram Panchayat shall be to provide within the area under its jurisdiction for -(a)sanitation, conservancy and drainage and the prevention of public nuisances;(b)curative and preventive measures in respect of malaria, small pox, cholera or any other epidemic;(c)supply of drinking water and the cleansing and disinfecting the sources of supply and storage of water;(d)the maintenance, repair and construction of public streets and protection thereof;(e)the removal of encroachments of public streets or public places;(f)the protection and repair of buildings or other property vested in it;(g)the management and care of public tanks, subject to the provisions of the Bengal Tanks Improvement Act, 1939, common grazing ground, burning ghats and public graveyards;(h)the supply of any local information which the District Magistrate, the Zilla Parishad [the Mahakuma Parishad, the Council] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 20 of 1988.] or the Panchayat Samiti within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Gram Panchayat is situate, may require;(i)organising voluntary labour for community works and works for the upliftment of its area;(j)the control and administration of the Gram Panchayat Fund established under this Act;(k)the imposition, assessment and collection of the taxes, rates or fees leviable under this Act;(l)the maintenance and [control of the Dafadars, Chowkidars and Gram Panchayat Karmees] [Words substituted for the words 'control of Dafadars and Chowkidars' by W.B. Act 2 of 1995, w.e.f. 28.12.1994.] due [performance by the Dafadars, Chowkidars and Gram Panchayat Karmees] [Words substituted for the words 'performance by the Dafadars and Chowkidars' by W.B. Act 2 of 1995, w.e.f. 28.12.1994.] of the duties imposed on them under this Act;(m)the constitution and administration of the Nyaya Panchayat established under this Act; and(n)the performance of such functions as may be transferred to it under section 31 of the Cattle-trespass Act, 1871.(3)[ A Gram Panchayat shall not omit or refuse to act upon any recommendations of a Gram Sansad relating to [a programme or work proposed,] [Sub-Section (3) inserted by W.B. Act 8 of 2003.] prioritization of any list of beneficiaries or scheme or programme so far as it relates to the area of the Gram Sansad unless it decides in a meeting for reasons to be recorded in writing that such recommendation or recommendations are not acceptable or implementable under the provisions of the Act or any rule, order or direction thereunder; such decision of the Gram Panchayat shall be placed in the next meeting of the Gram Sansad.] [Section 19 renumbered as sub-section (2) of that section and sub-section (1) inserted by W.B. Act 18 of 1994.]
