All social justice welfare pension beneficiaries approved before December 31, 2025, must complete their life certification (mustering) through an Akshaya centre by October 31.
Ward Committee/Grama Sabha

🏡 Grama Sabha

This is the most important system in a democratic governance structure that allows ordinary citizens direct participation in administration.

  • Members: All voters in each ward of a Grama Panchayat are members of that ward's Grama Sabha.
  • Convener: The respective Grama Panchayat member (Ward Member) is the convener of the Grama Sabha.
  • Meeting: The Grama Sabha must meet at least 4 times a year.

Image removed. Functions:

  • Select beneficiaries for various welfare schemes.
  • Formulate Panchayat projects (project planning).
  • Discuss the budget, audit reports, and estimates of public works.
  • Understand the rationale behind the decisions made by the Panchayat.
  • Quorum: The quorum is 10 percent of the total members (the minimum number of members required to hold a meeting).

🏘️ Ward Sabha / Ward Committee

  • Ward Sabha: In municipalities with a population of less than one lakh, this is the assembly comprising the voters of each ward. It has responsibilities similar to a Grama Sabha. The Ward Councilor is the convener.
  • Ward Committee: In municipalities or corporations where a ward's population exceeds one lakh, Ward Committees are formed instead of Ward Sabhas.
    • Members (Committee): The elected representative (Councilor) of the ward acts as the Chairperson. The committee includes representatives of registered organizations, neighborhood groups (Ayalkoottams), political parties, educational institutions, and nominated members.
    • Responsibilities: Ensure participation in projects and development activities, and discuss and evaluate ward-level development matters.

🧍‍♀️ Powers, Rights, and Responsibilities of Grama Sabha / Ward Sabha

Image removed. Related to Project Planning and Execution:

  • Collect details: Assist in collecting the details required to formulate development projects.

  • Proposals and prioritization: Prepare proposals and set priorities for projects and development programs to be implemented in the Grama Panchayat/Municipality area.

    (Note: Draft project proposals must be printed and distributed in the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha, which should then review them and determine the order of priority.)

  • Provide assistance: Provide assistance, facilitate amenities, offer voluntary service, and contribute or mobilize funds or materials for the effective implementation of development projects.
  • Ensure efficiency: Ensure the efficiency of the implemented development, service, and welfare schemes.

Image removed.  Related to Public Facility Projects:

  • Suggest locations for installing streetlights, public water taps, public wells, public sanitation units, irrigation facilities, and other public utility projects.

Image removed.  Related to Public Works:

  • Know the details: Know the estimates and material cost details of works implemented or proposed to be implemented in the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha area. (Note: Details must be distributed in the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha.)
  • Monitor committees: Monitor and assist beneficiary committees undertaking development programs.
  • Collect estimate details: Collect detailed estimate information regarding the works proposed to be implemented in the area.

Image removed.  Eligibility Verification and Selection of Beneficiaries:

  • Verify eligibility: Verify the eligibility of those receiving various welfare aids like pensions and subsidies.
  • Preparation of priority list:
    • After receiving applications and conducting inquiries, present the draft priority list of applicants in the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha.
    • Conduct a scrutiny regarding eligibility with the active participation of the applicants.
    • Thereafter, prepare the final priority list and submit it to the Grama Panchayat/Municipality. (Note: The local self-government institution shall not alter the order of priority approved by the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha.)
  • Beneficiaries of all schemes: The Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha must select the beneficiaries in order of priority not only for projects implemented by the Grama Panchayat/Municipality but also for those executed by other Panchayats (Block/District Panchayats) or other departments.
  • Distribute information: Lists of beneficiaries receiving benefits, such as BPL families, Ashraya beneficiaries, and welfare pensioners, must be distributed in the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha.
  • Ensure benefits: Ensure that the eligible receive benefits and the ineligible do not.

Image removed. Regarding the Functioning of Officials:

  • Participation: Officials under the control of the Grama Panchayat/Municipality must mandatorily participate in Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha meetings as required by the President/Chairperson.
  • Coordinator: An official appointed by the local self-government institution must act as the coordinator of the Grama Sabha/Ward Sabha.