Question : AMENDMENT IN PANCHAYATI RAJ ACT

(a) whether the Government propose to amend the Constitution to grant administrative and financial powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the Bill is likely to be brought forward in this regard;

(c) the details of the schemes to assist Panchayats to enable them to provide financial assistance to the needy especially to artisans in villages;

(d) whether any existing scheme is going to be modified in this regard; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINSTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOMENT (SHRI ANNASAHEB M. K. PATIL)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


Statement referred to in Reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.114 due for Answer on 26th November, 2002

(a)&(b) The All India Panchayat Adhyakshas Sammelan held at New Delhi in April, 2002, inter-alia, welcomed the proposal of the Hon`ble Prime Minister for an appropriate new Amendment to the Constitution to bring about speedy and effective devolution of financial and administrative powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and unanimously resolved to urge the Union Government to initiate the process in this behalf. The Union Government has initiated further action on the aforesaid Resolution adopted at the Sammelan. At this stage, therefore, it may be premature to announce the details or the time-frame for the introduction of a Constitutional Amendment Bill to grant administrative and financial powers to Panchayati Raj Institutions.


(c) In this Ministry, the Sampurna Grameen Rozgaar Yojana (SGRY) envisages earmarking of funds for individual beneficiary Schemes for SCs/STs for providing economic and social assets and for developmental works on individual lands of Below Poverty Line (BPL), SC and ST families.


(d) No, Sir.


(e) Does not arise.