Question : MONITORING OF PANCHAYATS BY CENTRAL AGENCY

(a) whether the Union Government is contemplating to implement the Panchayati Raj system vigorously in all the States of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the States where the Panchayati Raj system has been introduced have been monitored by the Central Agency;

(d) if so, the name of the States monitored so far by the Central Agency;

(e) whether Panchayats have been conferred the financial powers by the Panchayati Raj Act; and

(f) if not, the time by which Government intend to implement it?

MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ ( SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR )

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. For this purpose, a Conference of Chief Ministers and State Ministers in-charge of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj on `Poverty Alleviation and Rural Prosperity through Panchayati Raj` was organised at New Delhi on 29-30 June, 2004, jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Issues relating to effective implementation of Parts IX and IX A of the Constitution on Panchayati Raj were tabled as agenda for discussion by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. These issues included effective devolution of functions, finances, functionaries, planning, Gram Sabhas, women, reservation for SCs/STs, special problems of SCs/STs, elections, audit, parallel bodies, capacity building and training, and State of the Panchayats Report and jurisprudence. 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 will be discussed in the seventh Round Table Conference scheduled to be held at Jaipur on 17-19 December, 2004. 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.

(c) & (d) No Sir.

(e) & (f) The administration of the Law is in the purview of State Governments. The Panchayats have been conferred financial powers by the State Panchayati Raj Acts in varying degrees.