—————————————————————————————-~———— ^ THE PANCHAYAT RAJ has brought new light of hope to the poor and distressed in rural West Bengal Nine years of Left Front rule generated progress and new awakening in villages Everybody could realise the potential possibilities of the Panchayat system in West Bengal only after the Left Front Government took over in 1977 In 1978, a new 3 tier system—Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad was introduced with a massive support and participation of the people. It is remarkable that during the last nine years 26.79 crores of man-days were created under Food for Work and the National Rural Employment Programme by the Panchayat bodies, which in turn created many permanent assets in rural areas. More than 63,000 houses have been built by the Panchayats for landless cultivators. Today 2,944 Panchayat Bhavans and 421 Homeopathy Centres, Marketing and distribution Centres, Adult Education and Training Centres have been set up. Irrigation facilities have been provided to 1,34,248 hectares of land. Grants and loans for different development activities are also being sanctioned. The Panchayats, inspired and supported by the State Govt, have spearheaded such rural development programmes as Land Reform measures, recording of 13.39 lakh sharecroppers (upto December, 1985), 'Operation Barga', acquisition of surplus land and distribution among the landless, homestead land for bargadars and pattadars, agricultural inputs and bank loans, social forestry covering 10,060 hectares, sinking and repairing of tube-wells, building of community huts, repair of 8,50,480 kms of village roads, 9,353 culverts, construction and repair of 14,170 school buildings, granaries, rural godowns and bus-shelters etc. The functioning of Panchayat system has been strengthened and extended by the Left-Front Govt. to ensure a better life to the rural people of West Bengal. Government of West Bengal. ICA 3638/86