Question : RGPSA and BRGF

a) whether some ongoing activities under the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) and Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) have been affected in various States due to delinking of these schemes from central support and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
b) whether the Government had conducted any study regarding the consequences/difficulties likely to be faced by State Governments as a result of such delinking, if so, the details and outcome thereof;
c) whether the Government has received requests from various State Governments including Odisha to release funds for completing the ongoing/incomplete activities under the RGPSA and BRGF;
d) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the details of funds allocated/released thereunder during the current year so far, State/UT-wise; and
e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that the ongoing/incomplete activities under the RGPSA and BRGF are not affected due to delinking thereof from the central support?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI NIHAL CHAND)
(a) & (b): Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) were transferred to states and delinked from central funding from 2015-16 though a sum of Rs.60 crore was provided for RGPSA. . Subsequently, at the request of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), another Rs.300 crores were provided for RGPSA. MoPR has not conducted any study in this regard. However, as funds have become available to Gram Panchayats as per the recommendation of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (14th FC), the Ministry has supported States in preparing guidelines for Gram Panchayats to prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
(c) to (e): Requests have been received from States including Odisha for funds. Under RGPSA, plan proposals were received from the States/UTs including Odisha during 2015-16 for capacity building and training support to Gram Panchayat Development Plan. Rs.540.98 crore has, so far, been approved under RGPSA to 21 States/UTs including Rs.19.59 crore to Odisha State during 2015-16. A statement containing state-wise funds approved under RGPSA for the current year (2015-16) is given at Annex. Further, Rs.200,292.20 crore are being provided to Gram Panchayats as per the 14th FC recommendations, for the five year period from 2015-16 to 20119-20 to develop basic services such as sanitation, drinking water, maintenance of community assets, maintenance of roads, footpaths, street lights, burial and cremation grounds.
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