(a) whether the Government have agreed to extend a grant of Rs. 75 lakh to the
Kerala Institute of local administration for providing the training to the
representatives of the Panchayat Raj Institutions;
(b) if so, the reasons for non-releasing this fund to the State so far; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to release special grant for the construction of
the office-cum-training institute for the State Election Commission in Kerala?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ANNASAHEB M. K. PATIL)
(a) & (b) A proposal for training of elected representatives of PRIs was sent by
Government of Kerala to the Planning Commission, which was forwarded to the Ministry
of Rural Development for consideration under the ongoing scheme of `Panchayat
Development and Training`. The proposal was considered by the Ministry and approved
as per the Scheme guidelines. The State Government in the meanwhile was released a
grant of Rs. 1.00 crore by the Planning Commission for the purpose of training of
representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The clarification sought from the
Government of Kerala regarding utilization of the above grant is still pending with the
State Government.
(c) Ministry of Rural Development does not provide any assistance for the
construction of offices of State Election Commission.