Zilla Panchayat

The Zila Panchayat or District Development Council or Zilla Parishad or District Panchayat is the third tier of the Panchayati Raj system and functions at the district levels in all states. A Zila Parishad is an elected local body representing the entire rural area of a district. A District Panchayat is headed by a president,, who is elected from among its elected members. The vice president (Upadhyaksha) assists the president. The executive functions are carried out by the chief executive officer or secretary, a senior administrative officer appointed by the state government. The Zila parishad acts as the link between the state government and the block-level Block Panchayat.