(a) the steps taken by the Union Government to ensure that Constitution Seventy Third Amendment Act is implemented in all the States in its letter and spirit;
(b) whether Government would ensure that functionaries of Panchayats perform their duties without any fear especially in terrorist/naxalite affected areas with special reference to Jammu and Kashmir, and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND DRINKINGWATER AND SANITATION (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has prepared a “Road Map for the Panchayati Raj” by addressing a broad range of issues in Panchayati Raj, relating to empowerment, enablement and accountability of Panchayats. The document has been shared with the States. The recommendations in the Roadmap have been kept in view while preparing schemes for the Twelfth Plan. MoPR is implementing Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) which aims at strengthening the Panchayati Raj system across the country and addressing the critical gaps. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided to the States for a range of activities to be undertaken by them for strengthening Panchayati Raj as enshrined in the Constitutional 73rd Amendment.
(b) & (c) As per the report received from the Ministry of Home Affairs various measures have been taken to instill confidence in the Panchayat representatives, create a sense of security among them and reduce their threat perception. The measures inter alia include (i) strengthening of security grid and sanitization of the vulnerable areas; (ii) working out proper security assessment of the Panchayat members to provide them security cover if needed; (iii) ensuring close coordination and synergy amongst different agencies to avoid such incidents in future; (iv) sharing intelligence inputs by different security agencies on a daily basis, and (v) intensifying night patrolling and area domination by the army in the vulnerable areas. The State Governments are sensitive to the issue and interventions are being made at appropriate levels to ensure that the gains of panchayat elections / devolution process set in motion are fully realized.