(1) The Gram Panchayar member elected from a Gram Sansad shall be the Chairperson of the Gram Unnayan Samiti:
Provided that in the event ofthere being two elected members from any constituency, the membersenior in age shallbe the Chairperson.
26 THE KOLKATA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, NOVEMBER 23, 2004 [PAr I
(2) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall have a Secretary to be selected by the Gram Unnayan Samiti from amongst its members in its first meeting.
74, Functions of a Gram Unnayan Samiti.-(1) The functions of a Gram Unnayan Samiti shall be to help and assist the Gram Sansad in the preparation and implementation of its perspective plan for five years and annual plan as a part of the same, for achieving the economic development and social justice. Such perspective plan and annual plans as adopted by the Gram Sansad may be the basis of the Gram Panchayat plan. In doing so, the Gram Unayan Samiti shall
(a) identify the need of the Gram Sansad area with the participation of villagers, prepare the budget for the Gram Sansad;
(b) receive and utilize fund for the Gram Sansad and maintain records accordingly;
(c) prepare the half-yearly and annual report on income and expenditure and on the activities of the Gram Unnayan Samiti during the last six months or one year, as the case may be, and present in the meeting of the Gram Sansad;
(d) help the Gram Panchayat to mak'c an assessment of the tax and realisation thereof;
(e) mobilize local resources to augment the Gram Panchayat and the Gram Sansad fund;
(f) identify local, natural, physical and human resources which are lying unutilised or under-utilized and also suggest measures and mobilize public opinion within the Gram Sansad for optimum utilization of resources so unutilized and under-utilized;
(g) prioritise the projects and schemes for implementation with the available resources in consultation with the villagers.
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(2) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall promote the livelihood opportunities for all adult members of the Gram Sansad f through proper and planned utilization of the available resources including the greater access to credit from the financial institution of the Gram Sansad fund and its repayment.
(3) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall plan, implement and monitor development of sports and cultural activities.
(4) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall help village-level functionaries to extend their outreach, to spread awareness among people about livelihood, health, nutrition, education, abolition of disparities based upon gender, utilization and repayment of credit, including the protection of environment and ensure the participation of all in reaching the goals related to those areas.
(5) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall ensure preparedness to prevent and tackle the natural calamities, epidemic or diseases and to organize storage of grains to provide food security during lean months and natural calamities.
(6) The Gram Unayan Samiti shall promote and nurture neighbourhood groups and user groups of the poor for their social and economic development and act as an information centre, data bank and facilities reaching to the various services to the people.
(7) The Gram Unayan Samiti shall report on the progress orproblems ofvarious activities to the Gram Sansad and Gram Pa11chayat and ifnecessary, seek intervention of the Gram Panchayat in resolving the problems or disputes and to promote participation of all Gram Sansad members in the Gram Sansad meetings.
(8) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall mobilize people around the Gram Sansad for expansion of social opportunities and in the process link up the activities of the Gram Sansad with those of the concerned Gram Panchayat.
(9) The Gram Unnayan Samiti shall take a consensus decision for performing its functions. In case of difference of opinion among its members, the matter shall be decided by the majority decision
CHAPTER XII Repeal and Savings