Empowerment of Panchayats

The Central Government provides funds to the State Governments under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) to redress regional imbalances in development in 250 backward districts in the country with a strategy that aims to promote the performance and capacity of Panchayats in planning, decision making, implementation and monitoring.

In addition to the BRGF, the following schemes for empowerment of Panchayats are being implemented:

(1) Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana: Funds are released to States for training and capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions in districts uncovered by the BRGF.

(2) Rural Business Hubs: This Scheme aims to assist the Panchayats to empower rural labour productivity by providing forward backward linkages with technical assistance in Public-Private-Partnership.

(3) Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan: It aims to enable women and youth Panchayat leaders to come together to articulate their problems as women Panchayat Leaders.

(4) e-Panchayat: For computerizing the databases, accounts and other functions of the Gram Panchayats for accountability and transparency.

(5) Panchayat Empowerment & Accountability Incentive Scheme: To recognize and incentivize the efforts of Panchayats with respect to transparency, accountability and efficiency and of States with respect to devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayats.

The above information was given by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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