Lok Sabha Question No. 2682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Funds for Panchayati Raj Programmes
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE, Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh, B. S. YEDDYURAPPA, KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2682 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## FUNDS FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ PROGRAMMES

2682.  SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE: SHRIMATI  PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH: SHRI B.S.YEDIYURAPPA: SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds allocated, released and utilized by various States of the country for the implementation of various schemes/programmes of the Ministry  during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  funds  are  being  utilized  by  the  State  Governments  as  per  the  prescribed norms and if so,  the details thereof and if not, the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  any  further  funds/balance  funds  are  proposed  to  be  released  to  the  States particularly to Odisha and if so, the details thereof including the time by which the funds are likely to be released, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes    to  organize  any  programme  to  make  the representatives an officers of the Panchayats aware of their duties and responsibilities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Union  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  aid  and  develop  healthy financial governance system in PRIs and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  was  implementing  two  major  Schemes  namely  Rajiv Gandhi  Panchayat  Sashaktikaran  Abhiyan  (RGPSA)  and  District  Component  of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF).  The State Component of RGPSA and the District  Component of BRGF has been delinked from budgetary support of Central Government w.e.f. 2015-16.  The details of funds allocated, released and utilized by various States during the last three years and current year under RGPSA and BRGF programmes are at Annexures I and II respectively.
- (b) The States are utilising the funds as per guidelines and also in line with the specific observations  of  Central  Executive  Committee  (CEC),  if  any,  while  approving  the respective proposals under RGPSA.  Under BRGF, utilisation of funds was regularly monitored through various documents viz. periodical physical and financial progress reports, utilization certificates,  audit  reports  of  statutory  auditors,  etc.,  submitted  by the State Governments. Guidelines also provided for audit of works through a Review Committee  at  the  District  Level  and  Social  Audit  and  inspection  at  the  Panchayat levels. The utilization is also reviewed at the Ministry level in the meetings of State Panchayati Raj Secretaries.
- (c) Under RGPSA, further release of funds to the States, including Odisha depends on receipt of proposals, utilisation of funds released in the previous years and availability of funds under the scheme. The proposal from Odisha has yet not been received under RGPSA for the current year.
- (d) The Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR)  has  been  providing  financial  assistance  to States for imparting training to Elected Representatives (ERs)/ Panchayat Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on wide ranging topics relevant to their functioning including duties & responsibilities of ERs of PRIs.
- (e) The  Government  provides  proactive  support  to  States  to  develop  convergent  local development plans, capacity building of elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries  and  other  stakeholders,  improving  institutional  support  structures  and for developing state specific budgeting, accounting and auditing manuals to improve the  functioning  of  these  grassroots  level  local  self-governments  for  proper  and efficient utilisation of resources.  Besides, to facilitate better monitoring of the release and utilisation of grants and progress of preparation and approval of Gram Panchayat Development  Plan  (GPDP),  an  online  system  (MIS)  has  been  developed  and  is reviewed periodically with the States.  PRIASoft and PlanPlus are the two important Applications under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project developed by the Ministry for adoption by the States that foster transparency and accountability in the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions

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