Question : BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGES

(a) the total number of panchayats in the country, State/ UT-wise;

(b) the details of rural areas having no panchayats in die country, as on date,State/ UT-wise;

(c) the number of schemes introduced by the Government for ensuring balanced development of all the villages/regions through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;

(d) the financial assistance provided to the panchayats for balanced development of all villages / regions through PRIs during the said period; and

(e) the other steps taken/ being taken by the Government for ensuring balanced development of all the villages/ regions through PRIs in the country?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI V. KISHORE CHANDRA DEO)

(a) & (b) As per provisions of Part IX of the Constitution, Panchayats shall be constituted in every States at village, intermediate and district levels. However, Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding 20 lakhs. Article 243M of the Constitution exempts the States of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, hill areas of Manipur, Tribal (Sixth Schedule) areas and fifth Schedule areas.

However, PESA Act extends the provision for establishment of Panchayats in fifth Schedule areas. The number of Panchayats reported by States/ UTs is given in Annexure-1.

(c) & (d): With a view to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) across all the country to enable them to discharge their duties for balanced development on the basis of schemes/ programmes of different Ministries and States, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) implements the Backward Region Grant Funds (BRGF) which provides untied funds to Panchayats on the basis of plans prepared by them. MoPR also implements the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) to strengthen Panchayat across the country since March 2013.

(e) Financial assistance under BRGF is provided for Panchayats through States in 272 selected districts in the shape of development grant and for capacity building. The details regarding funds allocation and releases under BRGF to the various States during the last three years and current year is at Annexure-Il. MoPR also builds capacities of Panchayats through RGPSA.