(1)The Panchayat Samiti shall have the following Standing Committees -(a)Finance, Audit and Planning Committee, to be known as Finance Committee ;(b)Education, Environment, Cultural, Health and Sports Affairs Committee, to be known as Education and Health Committee ;(c)Communication, Rural Electrification and Non Conventional Energy Committee, to be known as Works Committee ;(d)Industries including Cottage Industries and Sericulture Committee, to be known as Industries Committee ;(e)Social Justice Committee ;(f)Agriculture, Food, Irrigation, Co-operation, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Committee, to be known as Agriculture Committee ; and(g)Poverty Alleviation Programme, Social and Farm Forestry, Rural Housing and Drinking Water Committee, to be known as Poverty Alleviation Committee.(h)Such other Standing Committee or Committees as the Panchayat Samiti may subject to the approval of the State Government, constitute.(2)Each Standing Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-(a)The Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti and Vice-Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti, ex-officio ;(b)Not less than seven and not more than eleven persons to be elected in the prescribed manner by the members of the Panchayat Samiti from amongst themselves ;(c)Such number of persons being officers of the State Government or any statutory body or corporation or being eminent persons having specialised knowledge, as the State Government may think fit, appointed by the State Government.Provided that such officers shall not be eligible for election as President of the Standing Committee and shall not have any right to vote.(3)The chairman shall be the ex-officio President of the Finance Committee. For other Standing Committees there shall be a President who shall be elected in such manner as may be prescribed.(4)No member of the Panchayat Samiti except the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall be eligible to serve on more than two Standing Committees.(5)A member of a Standing Committee shall hold the office for a period of two years or for so long as he continues to be a member of the Panchayat Samiti, whichever is earlier.(6)The meetings of the Standing Committees shall be held in the office of the Panchayat Samiti at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.(7)Standing Committees shall exercise such powers, perform such functions and discharge such duties as may be prescribed or as may be assigned to them by the Panchayat Samiti.(8)Panchayat Extension Officer/ Panchayat Officer shall be the ex-officio Secretary of every Standing Committee.(9)The State Government may make rules providing for the removal of member of a Standing Committee.
