THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)
(a): The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is implementing the (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with the primary aim of strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutes (PRIs) for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG''s) with the main thrust on convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening PRI''s in the 117 Aspirational districts since 2018-19 and prior to 2018-19, the Scheme of Capacity Building-Panchayat Sashktikaran Abhiyan (CB-PSA) for capacity building and training of elected representatives of PRIs during 2016-17 and 2017-18, (ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a Central Components of RGSA scheme to encourage competitive spirit among Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under which, Awards including financial incentives are given to best performing Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public goods, (iii) Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats, a Central component of RGSA scheme under which various e-governance projects are funded towards digitalisation of Panchayats to bring in efficiency, accountability and transparency in the functioning of the PRIs for overall transformation of PRIs (No funds are released to States under the scheme). All the above schemes are implemented for all the States including the State of Uttar Pradesh.
(b) No prior allocation of funds is made under the schemes of Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Funds are released based on the approved annual action plan to the States and not to their Districts under the schemes of CB-PSA/RGSA and under the scheme of IoP, funds are released to the States for the awardee Panchayats selected under the annually held National Panchayat Award competition. The State-wise funds released under the above schemes including to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Rajasthan is at Annexure.
(c) The release of grants under the CB-PSA/RGSA Scheme are contingent upon timely receipt and approval of annual action plan, contribution of matching State share and utilization certificates of the previous grants. The release of grants under IoP Scheme is contingent upon timely receipt of utilization certificates of the previous grants. Generally, funds were released on time.
(d) & (e): In order to give States maximum time for accomplishment of approved activities, the Annual Action Plan (AAP) of the State/ UTs are approved in the beginning of the financial year. The Central Empowered Committee of RGSA while approving the AAP also takes into consideration the progress of implementation of the scheme in the respective States/ UTs. Further, the implementation of the scheme in the States including utilisation of funds is closely monitored with the States through meetings, video-conferences field visit by Officers etc. States/ UTs are persistently requested for submitting the requisite documents viz. Utilization Certificate, Auditor’s Report etc and compliance of Ministry of Finance instruction for regulating release of funds. In addition to this, an online monitoring and reporting system (MIS) for RGSA has been developed and operationlised. Transaction based PFMS has been introduced for release and tracking of funds under RGSA.
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