Reservation of seats

(1) Seats shall be reserved in a Panchayat Samiti for the Schedued Castes and the Scheduled Tribes , and the number of seats to be reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion, to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Panchayat Samiti, as the population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat Samiti area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat Samiti in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) Fifty percent of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. (3) Fifty Percent ( including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribe) of the total number of seats to be filled by the direct election in every Panchayat Samiti shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Panchayat Samiti, in such manner as may be prescribed. Provided that such reservation, as prescribed in Sub-section (2) and (3) of Section 14, may be less than Fifty percent if the particular Panchayat Samiti is constituted with members in odd number. (1) Promotion of programmes relating to development of women and children. (2) Promotion of school health and nutrition programmes. (3) Promotion of participation of voluntary organisations in women and child development programmes. (T) Social welfare including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded. (1) Social welfare programmes including welfare of handicapped, mentally retarded and destitutes. (2) Monitoring the old age and widows' pensions and pensions for the handicapped. (U) Welfare of the weaker sections and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. (1) Promotion of welfare of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections. (2) Protecting such castes and classes from social injustice and exploitation. (V) Maintenance of community assets. (1) Maintaining all community assets vested in it or transferred by the Government or any local authority or organisation. (2) Preservation and maintenance of other community assets. (W) Public Distribution System. Assisting in distribution of essential commodities. (X) Rural electrification. Promotion of rural electrification. (Y) Co-operation. Promotion of co-operative activities. (Z) Libraries. Promotion of libraries.