Question : RESTRUCTURING PRI

(a) whether any study/assessment has been made on the performance of the Panchayati Raj system in the country and if so, the details and outcome thereof, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government proposes to bring about any changes in the Panchayati Raj system in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the State of Kerala is regarded as a model for other States to emulate the Panchayati Raj system, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to put in place any effective monitoring mechanism to streamline the projects being implemented by Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country; and

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), in collaboration with State Governments, has framed parameters to analyse the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The assessment of PRIs needs to be State specific. Accordingly, a set of model indicators, questionnaire and marking scheme, to be adopted appropriately by the States/UTs in their context for assessing PRIs, have been developed by MoPR. Incentive awards are given to the selected best performing Panchayats on the basis of such evaluation. The best practices followed in some of these award winning PRIs have also been documented. The Ministry has got conducted several studies including devolution of functions, funds and functionaries by States to PRIs in the form of State of Panchayat Reports. These study reports have been shared with the States/UTs.

(b) Inadequate devolution of powers and limited capacity are major constraints in the functioning of Panchayats. To improve the functioning of PRIs, MoPR is implementing a new scheme, the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) in the Twelfth Plan under which constraints such as inadequate manpower and infrastructure are addressed and funds are provided for Panchayat processes training, e-enablement of Panchayats, etc. Under the Backward Regions Grant Fund funds are released on the basis of plans made by the Panchayats.

(c) Kerala has been ranked among the top three States consistently over the last three years as per the Panchayat Devolution Index. Many State Governments have organized exposure visits to Kerala to study the PRI system in Kerala.

(d) & (e) The Government periodically reviews the working of the PRIs with the State Governments in meetings, through field visits and other forums. In case of shortcomings, the matter is taken up with the State Governments. Digitized MIS is under development in the Ministry to enable better monitoring of capacity building initiatives under RGPSA.