Lok Sabha Question No. 3076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-03
Subject: Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3076

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2017

## STRENGTHENING OF PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## 3076. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a) whether  Constitution  73rd  Amendment  Act,  1992  brought  about  major  changes  in Panchayati Raj System;
- b) if  so,  the  extent  to  which  the  Panchayati  Raj  System  has  been  strengthened over the years;
- c) whether during 12th Five Year Plan Approach Paper the issues were not  addressed and adequate funds were not provided to the Panchayati Raj Institutions by the Union Government and the Central and State Finance Commissions; and
- d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure that Panchayati Raj Institutions are strengthened  for  development  of  villages  and  have  greater  say  in  their  routine  daily functioning?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (73rd CAA), 1992 incorporated as Part IX  in  the  Constitution  has  provided  Constitutional  Status  to  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions (PRIs).  The  Constitution  of  India  recognizes  Panchayats  as  'Institutions  of  local  selfgovernment'. 'Panchayats' being 'Local Bodies' is a State subject mandated under Part IX and List II (State List) of Seventh Schedule (Article 246) of the Constitution of India. Under Part  IX  of  the  Constitution  mandatory  provisions,  which  include  three  tiers  of  Panchayats, direct  election  to  seats  at  all  three  tiers  of  Panchayats  and  indirect  elections  to  offices  of chairpersons  of  Block  and  District  Panchayats,  reservations  in  seats  and  offices  for  the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and women, rotation of reserved seats and offices of chairpersons and setting up of State Election Commissions and holding elections to Panchayats every five years have been implemented by all States except very few delays in holding  of  timely  elections  and  in  constitution  of  State  Finance  Commissions  in  some States/UTs.  The implementation of the provisions of part IX of the Constitution has resulted in the strengthening of Panchayati Raj System in the country.

(c) & (d): 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) Approach Paper delved into the challenge that requires greater  attention  to  ensure  better  implementation,  improved  accountability  and  impetus  to several  programmes  aimed  at  building  rural  and  urban  infrastructure  and  providing  basic services  with  the  objective  of  increasing  inclusiveness  and  reducing  poverty.  Accordingly, the MoPR has been taking several steps to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the States and  Union  Territories  covered  under  Part  IX  of  the  Constitution  through  provisioning  of financial  and  technical  assistance  for  capacity  building  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions, including Elected Representatives (ERs), to enable them to perform the devolved functions effectively and efficiently. Under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) for the period 2015-20,  grants  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  2,00,292.20  crore  are  allocated  to  Gram  Panchayats constituted under Part IX of the Constitution, for delivering basic services and technical & administrative support towards operations. The amount allocated for the Fourteenth Finance Commission  is  more  than  threefold  to  the  grants  of  Rs.  65160.76  crore  recommended  by Thirteenth Finance Commission for the award period 2010-15 for all levels of PRIs.

MoPR also incentivises  the  States  which  have  devolved  more  functions,  funds  and functionaries to the Panchayats. The States are regularly assisted in strengthening systems of budgeting,  accounting  and  auditing,  development  of  software  applications  and  imparting training for bringing transparency, accountability and efficiency in functioning of Panchayats and  for  preparation  of  Gram  Panchayat  Development  Plans  by  the  Gram  Panchayats  for effective development.

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