- Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, a Gram Panchayat may, and shall if the State Government so directs, make provision for -(a)the maintenance of lighting of public streets;(b)planting and maintaining trees on the sides of public streets or in other public places vested in it;(c)the sinking of wells and excavation of ponds and tanks;(d)the introduction and promotion of co-operative farming, co-operative stores, and other co-operative enterprises, trade and callings;(e)the construction and regulation of markets, the holding and regulation of fairs, melas and hats and exhibitions of local produce and products of local handicrafts and home industries;(f)the allotment of places for storing manure;(g)assisting and advising agriculturists in the matter of obtaining State loan and its distribution and repayment;(h)filling up of insanitary depressions and reclaiming of unhealthy localities;(i)the promotion and encouragement of cottage[khadi, village and small-scale including food-processing] [ Words inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.] industries;(i1)[ promotion of dairying and poultry;] [Clauses (i1) to (i3) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](i2)[ promotion of fishery;] [Clauses (i1) to (i3) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](i3)[ poverty alleviation programme;] [Clauses (i1) to (i3) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](j)the destruction of rabbit or ownerless dogs;(k)regulating the production and disposal of foodstuffs and other commodities in the manner prescribed;(l)the construction and maintenance of sarais, dharmasalas, rest houses, cattle sheds and cart stands;(m)the disposal of unclaimed cattle;(n)the disposal of unclaimed corpses and carcasses;(o)the establishment and maintenance of libraries and reading rooms;(p)the organisation and maintenance of akharas, clubs and other places for recreation or games;(p1)[ cultural activities including sports and games;] [Clauses (p1) to (p5) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](p2)[ social welfare including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded;] [Clauses (p1) to (p5) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](p3)[ welfare of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes;] [Clauses (p1) to (p5) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](p4)[ public distribution system;] [Clauses (p1) to (p5) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](p5)[ maintenance of community assets;] [Clauses (p1) to (p5) inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.](q)the maintenance of records relating to population census, crop census, cattle census and census of unemployed persons and of other statistics as may be prescribed;(r)the performance in the manner prescribed of any of the functions of [the Zilla Parishad or the Mahakuma Parishad or the Council, as the case may be,] [Words substituted for the words 'the Zilla Parishad' by W.B. Act 20 of 1988.] with its previous approval, calculated to benefit the people living within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat;(s)rendering assistance in extinguishing fire and protecting life and property when fire occurs;(t)assisting in the prevention of burglary and dacoity; and(u)any other local work or service of public utility which is likely to promote the health, comfort, convenience or material prosperity of the public, not otherwise provided for in this Act.
