(a) whether any scheme is being implemented by the Government to ensure the adequate infrastructure facilities to the Panchayats across the country, and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government had also proposed for computerization of all panchayats and provision of services through online; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the financial allocation made by the Government for this purpose for the last three years and the current year, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) ‘Panchayat’ being a State subject, providing infrastructure facilities to the Panchayats is primarily the responsibility of the State/UT Governments. Funds provided by the Central Government under MGNREGS and Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) award can also be utilized for provisioning infrastructure facilities in Panchayats.
(b) & (c) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project wherein a suite of core common software applications has been developed to address various aspects of Panchayats’ functioning including planning, budgeting, implementation, accounting, monitoring, social audit and delivery of citizen services like issue of certificates, licences, tax collection, etc. Further, some States have developed their own State-specific software applications for e-Governance of Panchayats. However, due to differentials in the level of preparedness of Panchayats (manpower, information and communication technology related infrastructure, capacity, etc.), the pace of adoption of these applications varies across States/UTs. Under the erstwhile scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashakatikaran Abhiyan, the MoPR had provided financial assistance for e-enablement in Gram Panchayats during 2013-14 to 2015-16. The details of financial assistance provided to States during the 2013-16 are given at Annexe.
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