Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the 2[Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj ]2 j Act, 1993. (2) It shall come into force on such 1[date]1 as the Government may by notification specify and differe nt dates may be specified for different areas and for different provisions. 1. Act came into force on 10.5.1993

CHAPTER IA Directive Principles of panchayat policy

2A. Directive principles of panchayat policy. – (1) The panchayat shall strive to promote, - (i) improved living standard of village community and quality of life b y providing contamination free drinking water, health and sanitation facilities; 34 (ii) the necessary rural infrastructure and involvement of rural communities and organizations in its improvement and development; (iii) democratic representation, social inclusion an d meaningful community engagement in the Panchayat area, for planning asset management and sustainable development for enhancing the economic, social and environmental well -being of its residents; (iv) the use of resources at the command of panchayat in a sust ainable manner so as to conserve them for future generation and to protect Forest and wild life in the Panchayat area; (v) activities to protect and preserve art, culture and heritage of the local community and promote tourism; (vi) the preservation, development a nd distribution of indigenous varieties of Shrubs of Medicinal Value; (vii) generation of employment opportunities by promoting Agro -industrial centers, rural cottage industries and a si ngle window system for processing of documents to ease the business operations; (viii) a spirit of co -operation and an atmosphere of well being by encouraging co -operative institutions so that they are able to work in accordance with National and state policies a t the grass root level; (ix) development and empowerment of human resource in rural area in terms of their skills, knowledge and other abilities; (x) a safe and tolerant community that fosters peace social and communal harmony and abjures violence in all its forms . (2) It shall be an important directive policy of Gram Panchayat to prevent the pessimistic attitude that may be permeating in the social fabric of residents of the village. Gram Panchayat shall pay special attention to those sections of farmers and oth er people who, on account of their vulnerability to socio economic pressures created by financial indebtedness, poverty and other factors, are psychologically prone to contemplate taking extreme step of the destruction of their own lives. Gram Panchayat me mbers shall educate the residents of the village of the futility of such mindset and instill confidence in the minds of all residents of the village ]1 1. Inser ted by Act 44 of 2015 w.e.f. 25.02.2016 . 1[CHAPTER II WARD SABHA AND GRAMA SABHA ]1 1. Chapter II and Section 3 Substituted by Act 37 of 2003 w.e.f. 1.10.2003.