Meeting of the Zila Parishad-

1. (1) The Zila Parishad shall hold its meetings at least once in every three months, at such time and at such place within the local limit of the district concerned as the Zila Parishad may fix at the immediately preceding meeting :

Provided, that the first meeting of a newly constituted Zila Parishad shall be held at such time and at such place within the local limits of the district concerned, as the District Magistrate may fix and shall be presided over by him; Provided further that the Adhyaksha when required in writing by one-fifth of the members of the Zila Parishad to call a meeting shall do so within ten days failing which the aforesaid members may call a meeting after giving intimation to the District Magistrate and seven clear days notice to the Adhyaksha and the other members of the Zila Parishad. (2)One-third of the total number of members of the Zila Parishad shall form a quorum for transacting the business at the meeting of the Zila Parishad.

1. (3) All questions coming before the Zila Parishad shall be decided by a majority of votes; in case of equality of votes the Adhyaksha or the member presiding shall have casting vote.
2. (4) Every meeting shall be presided over by the Adhyaksha or if he is absent, by the Up-adhyaksha and if both the Adhyaksha and Up- adhyaksha are absent or if the Adhyaksha is absent and there is no Up-adhyaksha, the members present shall elect one from among themselves to preside.
3. (5) No member of Zila Parishad shall vote on or take part in the discussion of any question coming up for consideration at a meeting of the Zila Parishad or any Committee if the question is one in which apart from its general application to the public he has any direct pecuniary or personal interest and if the person presiding has such an interest, he shall not preside over the meeting when such question comes up for consideration.
4. (6) If the person presiding is believed by any member present at the meeting to have any such pecuniary or personal interest in any matter under discussion and if a motion to that effect be carried, he shall not preside over at the meeting during such discussion or vote on or take part in it. Any member of the Zila Parishad may be chosen to preside at the meeting during the continuance of such discussion.
5. (7) No proposition shall be discussed at any ordinary meeting unless it has been entered in the notice convening such meeting or in the case of a special meeting in the written request for such meeting. A member may propose any resolution connected with or incidental to the subjects included in the list of business. The Adhyaksha may propose any urgent subject of a routine nature not included in the list of business if no member objects to it. No permission shall be given in the case of a motion or proposition to modify or cancel any resolution within three months after the passing thereof except in accordance with sub-section (9). The order in which any business or proposition shall be brought forward at such meeting shall be determined by presiding authority which in case it is proposed by any member to give particular proposition shall put the proposal to the meeting and be guided by the majority of votes given for or against the proposal.
6. (8) Any ordinary meeting may, with the consent of a majority of the members present, be adjourned from time to time, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than left undisposed at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
7. (9) No resolution of Zila Parishad shall be modified or cancelled within six months after the passing thereof except by a resolution passed by not less than one-half of the total number of members at an ordinary or special meeting any notice whereof shall have been given fulfilling the requirement of sub-section (4) and setting forth fully resolution which it is proposed to modify fully or cancel at such meeting and motion or proposition for the modification or cancellation of such resolution.
8. (10) The proceedings of every meeting shall be recorded in the minutes book immediately after the deliberations of the meeting and shall after being read over by the presiding authority of the meeting be signed by him. The action taken on the decisions of Zila Parishad shall be reported at the next meeting of the Zila Parishad. The minutes book shall always be kept in the office of the Zila Parishad. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the custodian of the minute book.
9. (11) The Zila Parishad may require the presence of Government officers at its meetings. If it appears to a Zila Parishad that the attendance of any field officer having jurisdiction over an area of a district or part of a district and not working under the Zila Parishad is desirable at a meeting of the Zila Parishad, the Chief Executive Officer shall by a letter addressed to such officer not less than fifteen days before the intended meeting, request that officer to be present at the meeting and the officer shall, unless prevented by sickness or other reasonable cause, attend the meeting :

Provided that the officer on receipt of such letter may if he for any of the causes aforesaid is unable to be present at the meeting himself, instruct his deputy or other competent subordinate officer to represent him at the meeting. 73.Functions and powers of Zila Parishad- (1) Subject to such condition as may be prescribed by the Government from time to time, the Zila Parishad shall perform following functions –

1. Agriculture – (i) Promotion of measures to increase agricultural production and to popularize the use of improved agricultural practices;

1. (ii) Opening and maintenance of agricultural seed farms and commercial farms;
2. (iii) Establishment and maintenance of godowns;
3. (iv) Conducting agricultural fairs and exhibitions;
4. (v) Management of agricultural and horticultural extension training centres;
5. (vi) Training of farmers;
6. (vii) Land Improvement and Soil Conservation.

2. Irrigation, Ground water resources and Watershed Development-

1. (i) Construction, renovation and maintenance of minor irrigation works and lift irrigation;
2. (ii) Providing for timely and equitable distribution and full use of water under irrigation schemes under the control of the Zila Parishad;
3. (iii) Development of ground water resources;
4. (iv) Installation of community pump sets;
5. (v) Watershed development programme.

3. Horticulture –

1. (i) Rural parks and gardens;
2. (ii) Cultivation of fruits and vegetables;
3. (iii) Farms.

4. Statistics-

1. (i) Publication of statistical and other information relating to activities of

Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad;

1. (ii) Co-ordination and use of statistics and other information required for the activities of the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad;
2. (iii) Periodical supervision and evaluation of projects and Programmes entrusted to the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.

1. (i) Soil conservation measures;
2. (ii) Land reclamation and land development works. 8. Marketing –
3. (i) Development of regulated markets and marketing yards;
4. (ii) Grading and quality control of agriculture products.

9. Social Forestry-

1. (i) Organise campaign for tree planting;
2. (ii) Planting and maintenance of trees.

10. Animal Husbandry and Dairy-

1. (i) Establishment of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries;
2. (ii) Setting up of mobile diagnostic and clinic laboratories;
3. (iii) Breeding farms for cows and pigs;
4. (iv) Poultry farms, duck farms and goat farms;
5. (v) Common cold storage facility for dairy, poultry and marine products;
6. (vi) Fodder development programmes;
7. (vii) Promotion of dairy farming, poultry and piggery;
8. (viii) Prevention of epidemics and contagious diseases.

11. Minor Forest Produce, Fuel and Fodder-

1. (i) Promotion of social and farm forestry, fuel plantation and fodder development;
2. (ii) Management of minor forest produce of the forests raised in community lands;
3. (iii) Development of wasteland.

12. Fisheries –

1. (i) Fish seed production and distribution.
2. (ii) Development of pisciculture in private and community tanks;
3. (iii) Development of inland fisheries;
4. (iv) Fish curing and drying;
5. (v) Assistance to traditional fishing;
6. (vi) Organising fish marketing co-operatives;
7. (vii) Welfare schemes for the upliftment and development of fishermen.

13. Household and Small Scale Industries (including food processing) –

1. (i) Identification of traditional skills in the locality and developing household industries;
2. (ii) Assessment of raw material requirements so as to ensure its timely supply;
3. (iii) Design and production to suit the changing consumer demands;
4. (iv) Organisation of training programmes for craftsmen and artisans;
5. (v) Liaison to tap bank credit for this programme;
6. (vi) Population and marketing of finished products;
7. (vii) Industrial Estates;
8. (viii) Organising Khadi, Handloomm, Handicraft and Village and Cottage Industries.

14. Rural Roads and Inland Waterways –

1. (i) Construction and maintenance of roads other than National and State Highways.
2. (ii) Bridges and culverts coming under roads other than National and State Highways.
3. (iii) Construction and maintenance of office building of the Zila Parishad.
4. (iv) Identification of major link roads connecting markets, educational institutes, health centres and link roads;
5. (v) Organising voluntary surrender of lands for new roads and widening of existing roads.

15. Health and Hygiene-

1. (i) Establishment and maintenance of Hospitals, Primary Health Centres and Dispensaries except Medical college Hospitals, T.B. Sanitoriums, Leprosy and Mental Hospitals;
2. (ii) Implementation of immunization and vaccination programmes;
3. (iii) Health education activities;
4. (iv) Maternity and child health avtivities;
5. (v) Family welfare activities;
6. (vi) Organising health camps with Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayat;
7. (vii) Measures against environment pollution 16. Rural Housing-
8. (i) Identification of houseless families;
9. (ii) Implementation of house building programme in the district;
10. (iii) Popularising low cost housing.

17. Education-

1. (i) Promotion of educational activities including the establishment and maintenance of primary and secondary schools;
2. (ii) Organisation of programmes for mass education and library facilities;
3. (iii) Extension work for propagation of science and technology to rural areas;
4. (iv) Survey and evaluation of educational activities;
5. (v) Establishment and maintenance of general hostels, ashrams, schools and orphanages

18. Social Welfare and Welfare of the weaker Section-

1. (i) Extension of educational facilities to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes by giving scholarships, stipends, boarding grants and other grants for the purchase of books and other accessories;
2. (ii) Managing hostels for the benefit of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
3. (iii) Organising Nursery Schools, Balwadis, Night schools and libraries to eradicate illiteracy and impart general education;
4. (iv) Conduct of model welfare centers and craft centers to train Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in cottage and rural industries;
5. (v) Managing residential basic schools for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;
6. (vi) Providing facilities for marketing of goods produced by members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
7. (vii) Organising co-operative societies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
8. (viii) Other welfare schemes for the upliftment and development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

19. Poverty Alleviation programmes - Planning, Supervision,

Monitoring and Implementation of Poverty alleviation programmes.

20. Social Reform Activities-

1. (i) Women’s organization and welfare;
2. (ii) Children’s organization and welfare;
3. (iii) Local vagrancy relief;
4. (iv) Maintenance of social welfare institutions such as orphanages, rescue shelters, etc.;
5. (v) 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. (vi) Control of fire outbreaks;
7. (vii) Campaign against superstition, casteism, untouchability, alcoholism, expensive marriages and social functions, dowry and conspicuous consumption;
8. (viii) Encouraging community marriages and inter-caste marriages;
9. (ix) Vigilance against economic offences such as smuggling, tax evasion, food adulteration;
10. (x) Assistance for developing lands assigned to landless labourers;
11. (xi) Resumption of land alienated by tribals.;
12. (xii) Identify, free and rehabilitate bonded labour;
13. (xiii) Organise cultural and recreational activities;
14. (xiv) Encouragement of sports and games and construction of rural stadia;
15. (xv) Give new form and social content to traditional festivals;
16. (xvi) Promotion of thrift and savings through:

1. (a) Promotion of saving habits;
2. (b) Small savings campaign; Fight against money lending practices and rural indebtedness

21. In addition, the Zila Parishad may-

1. (a) Manage or maintain any work of public utility or any institution vested in it or under its control and management;
2. (b) Acquire and maintain village haats and markets;
3. (c) Make grants to Panchayat Samiti or Gram Panchayat;
4. (d) Adopt measures for the relief of distress;
5. (e) Coordinate and integrate the development plans and schemes prepared by Panchayat Samitis in the district;
6. (f) Examine and sanction the budget estimates of Panchayat Samitis in the district;
7. (g) undertake or execute any scheme extending to more than one Block;
8. (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 term as may be agreed upon. 22. All such matters, as enumerated in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and which are not mentioned anywhere under this Act.

23. The Zila Parishad may be vested by the State Government with such powers under any Act as the Government may deem fit. 24. The Zila Parishad of two or more adjacent districts may jointly undertake and execute any development scheme on such terms and

25. Preparation of annual budget of the Zila Parishad.