Section 25 · Standing Committees of Gram Panchayats

(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall constitute the following committees by election, namely. - (i) the Production Committee for performing functions relating to agriculture production, animal husbandry and rural industries and poverty alleviation programmes; (ii) the Social Justice Committee for performing function relating to - (a) promotion of education, economic, social, cultural and other interests of the Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes and other weaker sections; (b) protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of exploitation; (c) welfare of women and children; (iii) the Amenities Committee to perform functions in respect of education, public health, public works and other functions of the Gram Panchayat. (2)(a) Each Standing Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members including the Sarpanch and the Sarpanch shall be the ex officio member and Chairman of all these Standing Committees: Provided that the Social Justice Committee shall consist of at least one member who is a woman and one member belonging to the scheduled Castes or Backward Classes. (b) Each Committee shall be competent to co-opt. In such manner as may be prescribed, members of farmers clubs, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and other similar bodies recognized by the State Government and representative of co-operative societies in the Gram Panchayat area shall also be co-opted to the Production Committee. (3) The Standing Committees shall perform the functions referred to in sub-section (2) to the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Gram Panchayat.