38Standing Committees

(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall constitute the following committees by election--

(i) Production Committee for performing functions relating to agricultural productions, animal husbandry and rural industries and poverty alleviation programmes;

(ii) Social Justice Committee for performing functions relating to--

(a) promotion of education, economic, social, cultural and other interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes;

(b) protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of exploitation; and

(c) welfare of women and children.

(iii) Amenities Committee to perform functions in respect of education, public health, public works and other functions of the Gram Panchayat.

(2) (a) Each Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members including the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan as the case may be. The Pradhan shall be the ex officio member and Chairman of Production Committee and Amenities Committee. The Pradhan shall be the ex officio member and Chairman of the Social Justice Committee:

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 Scheduled Tribes.

(b) Each Committee shall be competent to co-opt in such manner as may be prescribed, members of farmers' club, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and other similar bodies recognised by the Government. A representative of Co-operative societies in the panchayat areas shall be co-opted to the Production Committee. The rights and liabilities of the co-opted members shall be such, as may be prescribed.

(3) The Standing Committee shall perform the functions referred to above, to the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Gram Panchayat