Discretionary Functions

A Gaon Panchayat may also make provisions within its jurisdiction for - (a) acting as a channel through which Government's assistance reaches the village; (b) securing minimum standards of cultivation to be observed in the village with a view to increasing production; (c) making arrangements for co-operative managements of land and other resources in the village; (d) planting and maintaining trees by the sides of public streets and in other public places; (e) the improved breeding and medical treatment of cattle and prevention of disease in them; (f) filling in of insanitary depressions and levelling of land; (g) organizing, subject to rules prescribed a village volunteer force for watch and word, for assisting Gaon Sabha and Panchayat Adalat in the discharge of their functions and for the service of summons and notices issued by them; (h) assisting and advising agriculturists in the obtaining and distribution among them of Government loans and in the repayment thereof, in the liquidation of old debts and generally in the establishment of sound credit system according to law; (i) development of co-operation and establishment of improved seed and implement stores and production and use of improved seeds; (j) relief against famine or other calamity; (k) making representation to the District Board for performance by it of such functions in relation to the area within the jurisdiction of the Gaon Sabha as are beyond the powers of the Gaon Sabha; (l) extension of the abadi; (m) establishment and maintenance of libraries or reading rooms; (n) establishment and maintenance of akharas or clubs or other places for recreation and games; (o) regulating the use of manure and fertilizers; (p) prohibition or regulating the curing, tanning and dyeing of skins within 220 years of the abadi; (q) setting up organisations to promote goodwill and social harmony between different communities; (r) public radio sets and gramophones; (s) any other measure of public utility calculated to promote the moral and material well-being or convenience of the villagers; (t) with the previous sanction of the District Board the doing of anything which falls within the functions of the District Board for the benefit of the persons living within the jurisdiction of the Gaon Sabha; and (u) the doing of anything the expenditure on which is declared by the Chief Commissioner or by the prescribed authority with the sanction of the Chief Commissioner to be an appropriate charge on the Gaon Sabha Area Fund. In case of voting by ballot, the Returning Officer shall assign different symbols to each contesting candidate in confirmity, so far as practicable with the candidates choice. If more candidates than one indicate their preference for the same symbols, the Returning Officer shall decide by lot to which of such candidates the symbol will be allotted. The allotment by the Returning Officer of a symbol to candidate under this rule shall be final. The allotment of symbols will be done at the close of the hour for withdrawal of candidature. If the allotment of symbols is not completed on that day, it may be carried over to the following working day.