Question : Basic Facilities to Panchayats

(a) the details of facilities provided by the Government to the Panchayats in the country;
(b) the extent to which the objectives of the Panchayats have been achieved during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Governemnt has reviewed the basic facilities provided to the Panchayats for improving the standard of living in the villages of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for empowerment of the Panchayats and to provide basic facilities to the Panchayats during the next two years?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a)&(b) Panchayat being a State subject, it is for the states to endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority to enable them to function as institutions of self-governance and implement schemes for economic development and social justice including providing basic facilities to improve the standard of living in villages of the country.
Under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) award, Rs.200292.20 crore have been allocated to the Gram Panchayats (GPs) constituted under Part IX of the Constitution in 26 states, amounting to an assistance of Rs.488 per capita/annum at an aggregate level, for the award period 2015-20, for delivering basic services including water supply, sanitation including septic management, sewerage and solid waste management, storm water drainage, maintenance of community assets, maintenance of roads, footpaths and street-lighting, and burial and cremation grounds and any other basic services within the functions assigned to them under relevant legislations. The FFC funds are expected to improve the living conditions of the people in the rural areas. 10% of grants can be used by GPs for their operation and maintenance including purchase of computer, paying wages for contractual staff etc. Till 2014-15 Panchayats were supported under the Thirteenth Finance Commission Award.
The State-wise total allocation and release under the FFC award during the last three years and the current year (as on 18.12.018) are given at annexure.
(c) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) reviews the performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) from time to time through studies, review meetings, field visits, video conferencing and other forums such as Common Review Missions (CRMs). MoPR periodically commissions studies on issues such as structure, finances, capacity building and training, elections, e-enablement, devolution of powers to various tiers of Panchayats and other issues affecting growth, development and performance of Panchayats.

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(d) The total allocation for the States under FFC award to Gram Panchayats in 26 States for FY 2018-19 and 2019-20 is Rs.1,05,756.29 crore.

The restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), operationalised during current year, aims at strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building of the PRIs and its functionaries, through more use of technology and handholding some Panchayats as peer learning centres. The scheme also envisages to provide certain infrastructure requirement of Panchayats viz. construction of GP building, HR Support, Computers etc.
Under e-Panchayat MMP, being implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj a suite of Core Common Software Applications, collectively called Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES) has been developed to address various aspects of Panchayats’ functioning including planning, budgeting, implementation, accounting, monitoring, social audit and delivery of citizen services like issue of certificates, licences etc. The e-Panchayat MMP seeks to transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), making them more transparent, accountable and effective as units of decentralized local self-governments. 2.5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSC) are sought to be set up with at least one CSC in every GP across the Country under the CSC-2.0 project. As on 31st October, 2018, the total number of functional CSCs in India are 3,05,643 out of which 2,10,454 CSCs are functional at GP level.
Moreover, the Government has rolled out a People’s Plan Campaign as ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’ from 2nd October, 2018 to enable the Gram Panchayats to prepare the GPDP for the year 2019-20 in an evidence based and structured manner. The objectives of this campaign are strengthening the role of Elected Representatives of Panchayats and Woman Self Help Group (SHGs), evidence based assessment of progress made in 29 devolved subjects; strengthening of Plan Plus (a web based participative decentralized software) for providing a holistic development plan of Gram Panchayat and structured Gram Sabha meetings.

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