State Act

THE ODISHA GRAMA PANCHAYATS ACT, 1964

45. Discretionary functions :– The Grama Panchayat may, if a major-ity of its members so decide by a resolution, with the previous approval of the State Government and shall, if the state Government so direct, under-take within the Grama the control and administration of and be responsible for the following matters, namely : (a) Planting and care of trees on the sides of Public Streets or in other Public Places vested in it; (b) maintenance of village forest declared as such by notification by the State Government for the purpose of this Act; (c) improved breeding and medical treatment of cattle and pre-vention of cattle diseases; (d) construction, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses; (e) assisting and advising agriculturists in reclaiming waste lands and cultivating fallow lands; (f) development of Co-operation, promotion of Co-operative stores for improved seeds and implements, arranging for Co-opera-tive management of land and other resources of the village and establishment of Goshalas and dairy farms on Co-opera-tive lines : (g) relief from famine or other calamity; (h) establishment and maintenance of libraries and reading rooms and providing for music and other entertainments in Public Places; (i) organisation of fire services and protection of life and property in case of fire; (j) maternity and child welfare and establishment of centres for the purpose; (k) establishment and maintenance of Akharas and clubs and Places for sports, games and other recreations; (l) establishment and maintenance of ferries, fair-weather roads, cattle pounds and imposition of fees therefor; (m) establishment and maintenance of works for providing em-ployment in time of scarcity and establishment of granaries; (n) organisation, management and promotion of cottage indus-tries and the establishment and maintenance of trading and other remunerative schemes; (o) construction and maintenance of Dharmasalas and rest houses; (p) organisation and maintenance of agricultural and industrial ex-hibitions as are not managed by any other authority; (q) statistics of unemployment; (r) Public vaccination and inoculation; (s) Control over the disposal of adulterated foodstuffs and un-wholesome food and making of report to the appropriate au-thority under any law for the time being in force; (t) adult education; establishment of Primary Schools either jointly with any other Grama Panchayat or otherwise with the prior approval of the Panchayat Samitis concerned; (u) organising a body of Grama Swechha Sevaks for assisting the Grama Panchayat in the discharge of its functions in the mat-ter of Social Services such as extinguishing village fire pro-tecting life and property when fire or flood occurs, disposing of dead bodies and rendering such other social and philan-thropic services as may be specified by the State Government from time to time : (v) prevention of gambling and implementation of the programme for prohibition; (w) maintenance of village agricultural bunds situated on lands belonging to or vested in the State Government and construc-tion of such bunds on any such land; (x) the doing of anything the expenditure on which is declared by the State Government to be an appropriate charge on the Grama Fund; and (y) any measure not hereinbefore specifically mentioned which is likely to promote Public safety, health, convenience or general welfare.