Schedule IV

Functions of Block Panchayats (A)General Functions 1.Utilise Govemmental-non-Govemmental technical expertise at block level. 2.Provide technical assistance to Village Panchayats. 3.Prepare schemes taking into consideration the schemes of village panchayats in order to avoid duplication and to provide backward, forward linkage. (B)Sectorwise functions I.Agriculture 1.Farmers training programmes for the implementation at the village level. 2.Arrange agricultural inputs required for schemes at the village level. 3.Conduct of agricultural exhibitions. 4.Management of watersheds falling within the Block Panchayat area. 5.Mobilise agricultural loans. 6.Encouragement of sericulture. II.Animal Husbandry and Dairy Farming 1.Running of veterinary poly clinics and zonal artificial insemination centres. 2.Provide speciality services in animal husbandry. 3.Conducting of cattle and poultry shows. III.Minor Irrigation Implementation and maintenance of all Lift Irrigation Schemes and Minor Irrigation Schemes covering more than one village panchayats. IV.Fisheries Development of traditional landing centres. V.Small Scale Industries. VI.Establishment of mini industrial estates. VII.Promotion of industries with investment limit of one third of S.S.I. VIII.Formulation of self employment schemes in Industrial sector. Substituted by Act 13 of 1999. VI. Housing 1.Popularisation of low cost housing. 2.Promotion of housing co-operative societies. VII.Electricity and Energy Development of conventional energy sources. VIII.Education Management of Government Industrial Training Institutions. IX.Public Works 1.Maintenance of Village roads connecting more than one village panchayat within the Block Panchayat and other roads vested in block panchayat. 2.Construction of buildings for institutions transferred from Government. XPublic Health and Sanitation Running of community health centres and Taluk Hospitals with all systems of medicine within the Block Panchayat. XISocial Welfare Management of I.C.D.S. XIIPoverty Alleviation 1.Planning and implementation of employment assurance schemes in co-ordination with the Village Panchayat. 2.Skill upgradation of poor for self employment and giving wage employment for people below poverty line. XIII.Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Development 1.Management of pre-metric hostels. 2.Promotion of Co-operative Societies means for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes. XIV.Co-operation 1.Organising co-operatives within the jurisdiction of block panchayat.