Steering Committee
| Chairman | : | Pradeep Kumar K., President | |
| Members | : | Chandramathi T. T. – Vice President & Chairperson, Finance Standing Committee | |
M. Balakrishnan – Chairperson, Development Standing Committee | |||
| P. V. Ajitha – Chairperson, Welfare Standing Committee | |||
P. K. Saseedharan – Chairperson Health and Education Standing Committee |
In the local self-government system of Kerala, the Steering Committee or Co-ordination Committee is a committee that plays a significant role in the day-to-day administration and decision-making of the Grama Panchayat.
The primary objective of the committee is to coordinate the activities of the various Standing Committees of the Grama Panchayat and to ensure the smooth functioning of the administrative system.
The structure and major responsibilities of the Steering Committee are given below:
1. Structure of the Committee
The committee consists of key elected representatives of the Panchayat.
- Chairperson: The Grama Panchayat President is the Chairperson of the committee.
- Members: The Grama Panchayat Vice President and the Chairpersons of the various Standing Committees, such as Development Affairs, Welfare Affairs, and Health & Education, are members of the committee.
- Secretary: The Panchayat Secretary attends the meetings of the committee and records its decisions.
2. Major Responsibilities
- Coordination: To coordinate the plans and proposals prepared by the various Standing Committees so that they do not conflict with one another.
- Preparation of Agenda: To examine and determine in advance the important matters and agenda items to be discussed at the general meetings of the Grama Panchayat Administrative Committee (Panchayat Committee).
- Emergency Decisions: To take temporary decisions in urgent situations when it is not possible to convene a general meeting of the Panchayat Committee. Such decisions are subject to subsequent approval by the general meeting.
- Dispute Resolution: To discuss and resolve administrative disputes and confusion arising between different committees or officials.
In short, the Steering Committee functions as a high-level coordinating committee of the Grama Panchayat, similar to a Cabinet in its role of coordinating and facilitating administrative decision-making.