Functions and powers of the Habitation sabha

1[3A. Functions and powers of the Habitation sabha. – (1) The functions of habit ation sabha within their respective jurisdiction, shall be to assist the Ward Sabha and gram sabha and also includes the following functions namely, - (i) uphold social justice congenial for all people generally, in particular to the people of the vulne rable sections of the society to exercise their rights; (ii) identify hazards and suggest measures for the safety, security and freedom of all the residents of the habitation and in general of the village. in an environment that is clean and healthy; (iii) assist the Gram Panchayat to conduct surveys or participation of the residents in rural appraisals to collect essential socio -economic data and assess the needs of residents and their requirements for the development of the habitation in order to enab le the Gram Panchayat to compile and draw up the vision plan; (iv) fix the priority among the economic, social, cultural and environmental development programmes and schemes to be implemented in the area of the habitation, taking into account the interes ts of every group constituting the habitation and place them before the Gram Sabha for inclusion in the vision plan and the annual development plans of the Gram Panchayat; (v) priortise the location of installation of street lights, providing community w ater taps, public wells, public sanitation units, irrigation facilities and such other public amenity schemes and identify the deficiencies and suggest remedial measures and report the satisfactory completion of the works and manage a clean and healthy atm osphere in the habitation; (vi) identify the deficiencies in the water supply and street lighting arrangements in the area of habitation and suggest remedial measures; (vii) identify and select the most eligible beneficiaries from the area of habitatio n under poverty alleviation and other welfare programmes on the basis of criteria fixed and prepare list of the eligible beneficiaries in the order of priority; (viii) assist the gram sabha and the Gram Panchayat in planning, monitoring and implementing the plans, schemes and projects undertaken; (ix) initiate action to prevent discrimination on the basis of caste, religion and sex in the area of habitation; (x) assist the Gram Panchayat to eradicate untouchability, social boycotts of any kind and oth er types of social exclusions in promoting harmony and unity among various groups of people in the area of the habitation; (xi) organise cultural festivals, literary activities and sporting events to promote and nurture local games, athletics, the litera ture, arts and culture of the area and provide opportunities for the residents to express their talents; (xii) impart awareness on the matters of public interest such as cleanliness, preservation of the environment, prevention of public nuisance, pollut ion and ensure public peace, safety and security of all people; (xiii) address issues of water conservation, preservation of natural habitat and recycling of bio -degradable waste; (xiv) promote programmes of adult education, enhancing literacy and educ ation levels and family -counseling, character building and de -addiction of liquor, narcotic drugs and smoking among the youth, adults and senior citizens; (xv) promote at village level, small and medium industries, businesses and commercial enterprises i n consultation with associations of women, youth and senior citizens and provide training and capacity building opportunities for employment and send proposals to the Gram Sabha for necessary action; (xvi) monitor the functioning of public health centre’ s in the area of the habitation and assist in the implementation of health programmes, especially in the prevention of infectious diseases and promote family welfare measures and promptly report the incidence of 36 epidemics and natural calamities to the Gram Panchayat, the elected members and concerned panchayat functionaries; (xvii) take care of public properties such as gomaala, pasture lands, tanks, tank beds, ground water sources, roads, bridges, mines etc., within the area of habitation and the Gram Panchayat with a view to their conservation or maintenance; (xviii) revive and develop folk arts, handicrafts, home and cottage industries; (xix) provide and mobilise voluntary labour and contributions in cash and kind for development work and supervise such development work through volunteer teams; (xx) assist functionaries of the Gram Panchayat in providing sanitation arrangements in the area of habitation and render voluntary service to create clean and hygienic environment free from open defecatio n and in the removal of garbage; and (xxi) persuade the residents of the habitation to pay taxes and to repay loans owed to the Gram Panchayat; (2) Every habitation sabha shall have the power to, - (i) get information from the functionaries of the Gram Panc hayat as to the services they shall render, the programmes and projects they shall implement and the public works they propose to carry out in the succeeding period of six months after the meeting of the habitation sabha; (ii) get information from the Gram Pan chayat on the follow up action taken on the decisions of the gram sabha in relation to that habitation; (iii) assist the Gram Panchayat to prevent any other activity prejudicial to public interest or health and safety to the residents of the habitation;