MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a),(b),(c),(d),(e) & (f) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 28 DUE FOR REPLY ON 24.11.05 REGARDING
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS.
(a) & (b): Yes Sir. The Twelfth Finance Commission has recommended grants
amounting to Rs. 20,000 crore to States for Panchayati Raj Institutions payable during the
period 2005-10. State-wise allocations are annexed. The Finance Commission has not
recommended grants-in-aid for UTs.
(c) – ( e): The second instalment of grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions for the year
2005-06 is due for release in January, 2006, subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid
down in the guidelines.
(f): In order to evolve a national consensus on the measures to be taken to strengthen
Panchayati Raj and ensure that Panchayats function as institutions of self-government as
envisaged in Part IX of the Constitution, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj convened Seven
Round Tables of State Ministers of Panchayati Raj between July, 2004 and December,
2004. At the Round Tables about 150 points for action, touching 18 dimensions of
Panchayati Raj, were formulated by consensus. These include, inter alia, effective
devolution of functions, finances and functionaries, planning, empowerment of Gram
Sabhas, issues relating to reservation for SCs/STs and women, elections, maintenance of
accounts and audit, panchayats vis-Ã -vis parallel bodies, capacity building and training of
elected representatives, preparation of a State of the Panchayats Report and work on
Panchayati Raj jurisprudence.
A Council of State Ministers of Panchayati Raj under the chairmanship of Union
Minister for Panchayati Raj has been constituted to review the implementation of the
recommendations. The first meeting of the Council, was held on 5th – 6th August, 2005 at
Kochi, Kerala. A Committee of Chief Secretaries of States and State Panchayati Raj
Secretaries has also been constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Panchayati
Raj) to monitor the progress on the implementation of the 150 recommendations of the
Seven Round Tables and the decisions of the Council of State Ministers of Panchayati
Raj. Four review meetings of the Committee have so far been held in April, 2005, June,
2005, September 2005 and November 2005.
With a view to interacting with Panchayats and to carry out a review with the
authorities concerned of the progress in implementing the points for action mutually
agreed to in the Round Tables, a process of visiting the States and UTs at the level of
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj has been initiated. Seven States have been covered so
far. Each visit is concluded with a Statement of Conclusions jointly signed with the Chief
Minister of the State concerned, laying out the points of action on which the State would
move in order to operationalise the recommendations of the Round Tables. An exercise is
underway to review different statutes with a view to harmonise them with the provisions
of Part IX of the Constitution. Similarly, the guidelines of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
are being reviewed to ensure the centrality of Panchayats in planning and
implementation. As regards new Centrally Sponsored Schemes, wherever relevant, it is
proposed to provide for a central role for Panchayats. Steps are also being taken to fill in
critical gaps in infrastructure and capacity so that Panchayats can play their constitutional
role. It is expected that all these initiatives will help in making the functioning of
Panchayati Raj institutions more effective.
ANNEXURE
Allocation of grants to States for Panchayats (PRIs)
Recommended by 12th Finance Commission (2005-10)
(Rs. Crore) States Panchayats Allocation for Annual allocation the period 2005-10
1. Andhra Pradesh 1587.00 317.40
2. Arunachal Pradesh 68.00 13.60
3. Assam 526.00 105.20
4. Bihar 1624.00 324.80
5. Chhattisgarh 615.00 123.00
6. Goa 18.00 3.60
7 Gujarat 931.00 186.20
8. Haryana 388.00 77.60
9. Himachal Pradesh 147.00 29.40
10. Jammu & Kashmir 281.00 56.20
11. Jharkhand 482.00 96.40
12. Karnataka 888.00 177.60
13. Kerala 985.00 197.00
14. Madhya Pradesh 1663.00 332.60
15. Maharashtra 1983.00 396.60
16. Manipur 46.00 9.20
17. Meghalaya 50.00 10.00
18. Mizoram 20.00 4.00
19. Nagaland 40.00 8.00
20. Orissa 803.00 160.60
21. Punjab 324.00 64.80
22. Rajasthan 1230.00 246.00
23. Sikkim 13.00 2.60
24. Tamil Nadu 870.00 174.00
25. Tripura 57.00 11.40
26. Uttar Pradesh 2928.00 585.60
27. Uttaranchal 162.00 32.40
28. West Bengal 1271.00 254.20
Total 20000.00 4000.00
