Gramasabha/Ward Sabha
A voter of a ward in a village is a member of the Gram Sabha of that ward. Similarly, a voter of a ward in a municipality is a member of the Ward Sabha of that ward.
Ward members are the conveners of Gram Sabhas, and Ward Councillors are the conveners of Ward Sabhas. However, if a convener is unable to perform his or her duties, the Chairperson of the Local Self-Government Institution may appoint a member from a nearby ward as the convener of that ward.
The President of the Grama Panchayat shall preside over the Gram Sabha meeting, and the Municipal Chairperson shall preside over the Ward Sabha meeting. In Grama Panchayats, in the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside, and in the absence of both, the Convener shall preside. Similarly, in municipalities, in the absence of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson or, in their absence, the Chairperson of the Standing Committee nominated by the Chairperson shall preside, and in the absence of all of them, the Convener shall preside.
The responsibility for convening the meetings is vested with the Ward Member, who is also the Convener.
The quorum of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha is 10 percent of the total number of voters. However, when a meeting is adjourned due to lack of quorum and reconvened, the quorum for such a meeting shall be 50.
If not less than 10 percent of the voters of a ward submit a written request, the Convener shall convene a special meeting of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha within 15 days.
An officer decided by the Grama Panchayat / Municipality shall function as the Coordinator of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha. The Coordinator shall assist the Convener in all activities related to the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.
Members have the right to submit questions and suggestions to be considered in the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha either in writing before the meeting or while the meeting is in progress.
A resolution may be passed by a majority vote at the respective meeting on any matter that falls within the powers and jurisdiction of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.
- Assist in collecting the details required for formulating development projects.
- Prepare proposals and determine priorities for projects and development programmes to be implemented in the Grama Panchayat / Municipality area. (Draft project proposals shall be printed and distributed at the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha, and the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha shall examine them and determine the order of priority.)
- Provide assistance, facilities, voluntary service, financial or material support, and mobilize resources for the effective implementation of development projects.
- Suggest locations for installing street lights, public water supply taps, public wells, public sanitation facilities, irrigation facilities, and other public facility projects.
- Obtain information regarding the estimates of works implemented or proposed to be implemented in the area of the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha, including details of the cost of materials and other expenses. (The details shall be distributed at the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha.)
- Monitor and assist beneficiary committees undertaking development programmes.
- Collect information regarding detailed estimates of works proposed to be implemented in the area.
