(a) the total number of Panchayats in the country aiongwith the number of Panchayats with elected Sarpanchs;
(b) the number of women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes sarpanchs, out of them separately, State-wise;
(c) the number of Panchayats with the village secretary and Panchayat buildings in the country State-wise;
(d) whether the Union Government propose to provide some sort of honorarium to the Sarpanchs;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) if not, the reason therefor?
THE MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS AND MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRl MANI SHANKAR AIYAR):
(a) to (f) There are 2,41,310 Panchayats in the country. As per Article 243C of the Constitution,
the Chairpersons of Panchayat at the village levei shall be elected in such a manner as the Legislature
of the State, by law, provide and a Panchayat at the intermediate level or district level shall be elected
from amongst the elected members thereof. Union Government does not maintain the record of elected/selected
Sarpanches and the community/class which they represent. Panchayats is a State subject and the role of the
Union Government is to persuade the State Government/UT Administrations to implement the provisions of Part
IX of the Constitution. The data relating to the number of Panchayats with the village secretary and Panchayat
building in the country is not maintained at the Union Government level. The Union Government has no proposal
to provide honorarium to Sarpanches as it is for the State Governments to take a decision in this regard.