(a) whether the government is considering any proposal to connect Gram Panchayat through
broadband network and digitising the Panchayats records and files;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the status of implementation of e-governance project in all Panchayats in the country
and the funds allotted for the purpose?
MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ(Dr. C.P. JOSHI)
(a) & (b): Connectivity to Gram Panchayats through broadband network, is included as a
component in the Bharat Nirman II Programme. As on September 2010, a total of 97,392 Village
Panchayats have been broadband enabled. Under Bharat Nirman II Programme, the Government has
envisaged to provide broadband connectivity to all Village Panchayats. Some States are using
computers in functioning of Panchayats including for digitising records and files.
(c): For implementation of e-governance in Panchayats, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
has formulated “e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP)â€. Under this MMP, reports on
(1) Information and Service Needs Assessment (2) Business Process Re-engineering and
(3) Detailed Project Reports for each State/UT (except Delhi) have been prepared and
sent to respective States/UTs for operationalising. For this MMP, MoPR has been allocated
Rs.5.5 cr. in 2008-09, Rs.22.07 cr. In 2009-10 and Rs.24 cr. In 2010-11. From this amount,
development of software applications to automate core functions of Panchayats has also been
taken up. PRIASoft, an accounting software and PLANPlus, software for decentralized planning
have already been launched.