Question : CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE TO PANCHAYATS

(a) whether the Government has any plan to extend internet connectivity in every panchayat as it has become an essential infrastructural requirement;

(b) if so, whether the Government has allocated funds to all the States to provide computers in all the Panchayats;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government received any communication from the Government of Kerala for extending the connectivity infrastructure to the block/panchayat level at a cost of Rs.88 crores; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ ( SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR )

(a), (b) & (c) A Conference of Chief Ministers and State Ministers in charge of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj on Poverty Alleviation and Rural Prosperity through Panchayati Raj was organized in New Delhi on 29-30 June, 2004, jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Issues relating to effective implementation of Part IX and IX A of the Constitution on Panchayati Raj were tabled as agenda for discussion by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The Conference decided to hold seven Round Table Conferences to formulate a draft action plan towards achieving the objective of strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions to enable them to become true institutions of self- government for the planning and implementation of programmes of economic development and social justice as envisioned in the Constitution.

Six Round Table Conferences have already been held in which 16 of the 18 identified dimensions of Panchayati Raj have been discussed. The remaining two dimensions viz. capacity building and IT-enabled e-governance will be discussed in the seventh Round Table Conference scheduled to be held at Jaipur on 17-19 December, 2004. During the seventh Round Table Conference, the question of extending inter connectivity to every panchayat will also be discussed. Ministers in charge of Panchayats and their representatives have agreed to recommend to their respective Governments the conclusions reached during the six Round Table Conferences on the subjects under consideration for further necessary action. Similarly, the conclusions reached during the seventh Round Table Conference are also proposed to be recommended by the Ministers in charge of Panchayats to their respective Governments for adoption.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has not allocated any funds to the States to provide computers in all the Panchayats. This will, however, be taken up in the light of the conclusions on IT-enabled e-governance at forthcoming seventh Round Table in Jaipur.

(d) & (e) Ministry of Panchayati Raj has not received any communication from the Government of Kerala for extending the connectivity infrastructure to the Block/Panchayat level.