(1)Subject to any general or special direction of the State Government, it shall be the function of a Zilla Parishad to prepare plans for economic development and social justice of the District, and to ensure the co-ordinated implementation of such plans in respect of matters including those enumerated below -(A)Agriculture.(1)Promotion of measures to increase agriculture production and to popularise the use of improved agriculture implements and the adoption of improved agriculture practices.(2)Assisting in opening and maintenance of agriculture seed farms and commercial farms.(3)Assisting in establishment and maintenance of godowns.(4)Conducting agricultural fairs and exhibitions.(5)Training of farmers.(6)Land improvement and soil conservation.(B)Irrigation, ground water resources and watershed development.(1)Assisting in construction, renovation and maintenance of minor irrigation works and lift irrigation.(2)Providing for the timely and equitable distribution and full use of water under irrigation schemes under the control of Zilla Parishad.(3)Development of ground water resources.(4)Assisting in installation of community pump sets.(5)Watershed development programme.(C)Horticulture.(1)Rural parks and gardens.(2)Cultivation of fruits and vegetables.(3)Farms.(D)Statistics.(1)Publication of statistical and other information relating to activities of Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishad.(2)Co-ordination and use of statistics and other information required for the activities of the Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishad.(3)Periodical supervision and evaluation of projects and programmes entrusted to the Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishad.(E)Rural electrification.(F)Assisting in distribution of essential commodities.(G)Soil conservation.(1)Soil conservation measures.(2)Land reclamation and land development works ;(H)Marketing.(1)Assisting in development of regulated markets and marketing yards.(2)Grading and quality control of agricultural products.(I)Social forestry.(1)Organise campaign for tree planting.(2)Planting and maintenance of trees.(J)Animal husbandry and dairying.(1)Assisting in establishment of veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.(2)Assisting in setting up of mobile diagnostic and clinical laboratories.(3)Assisting in establishment and maintenance of breeding farms for cows and pigs.(4)Assisting in establishment and maintenance of poultry farms , duck farms and goat farms.(5)Assisting in establishment and maintenance of common cold storage facility for dairy, poultry and fishery products.(6)Assisting in fodder development programmes.(7)Promotion of dairy, farming, poultry and piggery.(8)Prevention of epidemics and contagious diseases.(K)Minor forest produce and fuel and fodder.(1)Promotion of social and farms forestry, fuel plantation and fodder development.(2)Management of minor forest produce of the forests raised in community lands.(3)Development of wasteland.(L)Fisheries.(1)Assisting in fish seed production and distribution.(2)Development of pisiculture in private and community tanks.(3)Development of inland fisheries.(4)Fish curing and drying.(5)Assistance to traditional fishing.(6)Organising fish marketing co-operatives.(7)Welfare schemes for the uplift and development of fishermen.(M)Household and small scale industries(including food processing).(1)Identification of traditional skills in the locality and developing household industries.(2)Assessment of raw material requirement so as to ensure timely supply.(3)Design and production to suit the changing consumer demand.(4)Organisation of training programme for craftsmen and artisan.(5)Liaison to tap bank credit for this programme.(6)Popularising and marketing of finished products.(7)Industrial estates.(8)Organisation of khadi, handloom, handicraft and village and cottage Industries.(N)Rural roads and building.(1)Construction and maintenance of roads other than National and State Highways.(2)Bridges and culverts coming under roads other than National and State Highways.(3)Construction and maintenance of office building of Zilla Parishad.(4)Identification of major link roads connection markets, educational institutions and health centres.(5)Organising voluntary surrender of lands for new roads and for widening of existing roads.(O)Health and hygiene.(1)Assisting in establishment and maintenance of hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries except medical college hospitals, T.B. sanitoriums, leprosy hospitals and mental hospitals.(2)Implementation of immunisation and vaccination programme.(3)Health education activities.(4)Maternity and child health activities.(5)Family welfare activities.(6)Organisation health camps with Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayat.(7)Measures against environment pollution.(P)Rural housing.(1)Identification of houseless families.(2)Implementation of house building programmes in the district.(3)Popularising low cost housing.(Q)Education.(1)Promotion of educational actives including establishment and maintenance of primary and secondary schools.(2)Planning of programmes for adult education and library facilities.(3)Extension work for propagation of science and technology in rural areas.(4)Survey and evaluation of educational activities.(5)Establishment and maintenance of general hostels, ashram schools and orphanages.(R)Social welfare and welfare of weaker sections.(1)Extension of educational facilities to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes by giving scholarships, stipends, boarding grants and other grants for the purchase of books and other accessories.(2)Managing hotels for the benefit of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.(3)Organising nursery schools, balawadis, night schools and libraries to eradicate illiteracy and impart general education.(4)Conduct of model welfare centres and craft centres to train the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in cottage and rural industries.(5)Managing residential basic schools for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.(6)Providing facilities for marketing of goods produced by members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.(7)Organising co-operative societies of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.(8)Other welfare schemes for the uplift and development of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.(S)Poverty allevation programmes.Planning, supervision, monitoring and implementation of poverty allevation progammes.(T)Social reform activities.(1)Women's organisation and welfare.(2)Children's organisation and welfare.(3)Local vagrancy relief.(4)Maintenance of social welfare institutions such as poor home, orphanages, rescue shelters, etc.(5)Assisting in sanctioning and distribution of pension for widows, old and physically disabled destitutes and allowances for unemployed and couples of inter-caste marriages in which one party is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.(6)Campaign against superstition, casteism, untouchability, alcoholism, expensive marriages and social functions, dowry and conspicuous consumption.(7)Encouraging community marriages and inter-caste marriages.(8)Vigilance against economic offences such as smuggling, tax evasion, food adluteration, etc.(9)Assistance for developing lands assigned to landless labourers.(10)Assisting in resumption of land alienated by tribals.(11)Identify, free and rehabilitate bonded labour.(12)Organise culture and recreational activities.(13)Encouragement of sports and games and construction of rural stadia.(14)Give new form and social content to traditional festivals.(15)Verification of weights and measures in shopping establishments.(16)Promotion of thrift and savings through-(a)promotion of saving habits ;(b)small savings campaign ; and(c)fight against spurious money lending practices and rural indebtedness.(2)In addition, the Zilla Parishad may-(a)manage or maintain any work of public utility or any institution vested in it or under its control and management;(b)acquire and maintain village huts and markets ;(c)make grants to Panchayat Samiti or Gram Panachayat ;(d)adopt measures for the relief of distress ;(e)co-ordinate and integrate the development plans and schemes prepared by Panchayat Samitis in the District ;(f)examine and sanction the budget estimates of Panchayat Samiti or Panchayat Samitis in the District ;(g)undertake or execute any scheme extending to more than one Block ; and(h)take over the maintenance and control of any rural bridge, tank, ghat, well, channel or drain belonging to a private owner or any other authority on such terms as may be agreed upon.(3)The Zilla Parishad may be vested by the State Government with such powers under any Act as the Government may deem fit.(4)The Zilla Parishads of two or more adjacent Districts may jointly undertake and execute any development scheme on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon.
