District Panchayath

Profile

Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory in the country lies scattered in the Arabian Sea 220 to 400 Kms away from the Kerala Coast between 8 degrees and 12 degrees North latitude and 71 degrees and 74 degrees East longitude with a total land area of 30.00 Sq.Kms. There are 27 islands of which 10 islands are inhabited and the population as per the 2011 census is 64473 with 33123 male and 31350 Female. The total households are 31350.

Lakshadweep is represented by a member in the lower house of Parliament. Prior to the introduction of Panchayati Raj in the territory there existed Citizen Councils in the islands and a Citizen Committee for the entire islands. There was An Administrators Advisory Council represented by members from all islands. With the introduction of Lakshadweep Administration Regulation, 1988 which constituted the Pradesh Council with elected members, the Administrators Advisory Council was abolished. Introduction of Lakshadweep Island Councils Regulation, 1988 paved way for constitution of Island Councils in all the islands with elected members.

Consequent to the Constitution (Seventy third Amendment) Act, 1992, the Government of India promulgated Lakshadweep Panchayats Regulation, 1994. Based on the provisions in the said Regulation both the Lakshadweep Administration Regulation, 1988 and Lakshadweep Island Councils Regulation, 1988 were repealed and Village (Dweep) Panchayats in all the 10 inhabited islands with 79 elected members and a District Panchayat for the entire territory with 22 elected members were constituted during December,1997 and January, 1998 respectively. The present Village (Dweep) Panchayats and District Panchayat are the Fourth such bodies, which were constituted during December 2012 and January 2013 respectively. The present strength in the District Panchayat is 26 directly elected members. Ten Chairpersons of the Village (Dweep)Panchayats and Member of Parliament are also members. Total elected members in 10 Village Panchayats are 88.

There are 10 Gramsabhas in all the islands consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to that particular island. The Administration UT of Lakshadweep prepares the electoral roll under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission appointed by the Central Government for the Union territory. The Gramsabha shall convene its meetings at least twice in a financial year.

One third of the total members in the Panchayats and the office of the Chairpersons of the Village (Dweep) Panchayats are reserved for women. Out of 85 total members in the Village (Dweep) Panchayats, 32 members are women and out of 25 directly elected members in the District Panchayat, 9 members are women.

Mission and Vision

District Panchayat administration for the Socio- economic development of Lakshadweep in the true spirit of the 73rd Amendment Act of the Constitutional of India and the Lakshadweep Panchayats Regulation, 1994 and the rules made there under. To accelerate the pace of development and involve all people in the development process. Elimination of poverty, ignorance, diseases and inequality of opportunities and providing a better and high quality of life. Socio-Economic betterment of people with better prospects for economic development, increased participation of people in the rural development programmes, decentralized planning through Panchayati Raj institutions at grass root level. Main thrust for development in the fields of Agriculture, education, health, fisheries and Animal husbandry keeping in view of the needs and aspirations of the local people, Panchayati Raj institutions have been involved in the programme implementation and these institutions constitute the core of decentralized development of planning and its implementation.

Formulation and implementation of the schemes and programmes with the Development Grant and the revenue by way of tax, fees, etc., implementation of the schemes and programmes of the devolved departments of the administration and the centrally sponsored schemes transferred to Panchayats for the economic and social developments of the people of the islands.

History

Lakshadweep is represented by a member in the lower house of Parliament. Prior to the introduction of Panchayati Raj in the territory there existed Citizen Councils in the islands and a Citizen Committee for the entire islands. There was An Administrators Advisory Council represented by members from all islands. With the introduction of Lakshadweep Administration Regulation, 1988 which constituted the Pradesh Council with elected members, the Administrators Advisory Council was abolished. Introduction of Lakshadweep Island Councils Regulation, 1988 paved way for constitution of Island Councils in all the islands with elected members.

Setup Prior to PanchayatiRaj in Lakshadweep

Administrative Committee of the 4^th District Panchayat