Question : Empowerment of Local Bodies

(a) The step being taken by the Government to provide infrastructural facilities to Panchayats;

(b) Whether the Government proposes to launch any new scheme for empowerment of Panchayats, if so, the details thereof;

(c) Whether the government proposes to introduce Nayay Panchayats Bill for empowering village Panchayats and if so, the details thereof;

(d) Whether there is any proposal with Union Government to extend the 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts to empower Local Bodies in Jammu & Kashmir; and

(e) If so, the details thereof and if not the reason therefor?

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

(a) ‘Panchayat’ being a State subject, providing infrastructure facilities to the Panchayats is primarily the responsibility of the State/UT Governments. Panchayats can also use the funds available under the Fourteenth Finance Commission award and other state and central sector schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for provisioning infrastructure facilities in Panchayats as per the respective scheme guidelines.
(b) The new scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) aims at strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building of the PRI members and its functionaries, through increasing use of technology and handholding some Panchayats as peer learning centers.
(c ) No, Madam. There is no such proposal.
(d ) & (e) No, Madam. There is no such proposal.
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