Lok Sabha Question No. 1509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Implementation of PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIS

## 1509. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  State  Governments  have  been  asked  by  the  Union  Government  to  send reports  regarding  the  effective  implementation  of  Panchayati  Raj  System  in  their respective States;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) the name of States which have already sent the reports in this regard;
- d) the  steps  taken/assistance  provided  by  the  Union  Government  for  decentralisation  of the administrative work; and
- e) the extent of success achieved in this regard as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to(c):  The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has been undertaking, the preparation of a Devolution  Index  (DI)  from  2006  onwards,  through  independent  institutions  which  ranks States on the enabling environment that has been created in the States under the framework of the  Constitution.  For  2015-16  Devolution  Index  prepared  by  MoPR  was  released  by  the Honourable Prime Minister on the National Panchayat Diwas on 24 th April, 2016.

To assess the level of decentralization and performance of Panchayats in the States through an Expert Group, and prepare a roadmap for the future consistent with the individual States' policies and priorities, States were requested to constitute an Expert Group consisting of professionals, experts from different walks of life, officials and senior political leaders with experience in Panchayati Raj and bring out the road map.  So far States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have intimated about the setting up of Expert Group for the respective States.

(d)&(e):  Under  the  scheme  of  Rashtriya  Gram  Swaraj  Abhiyan  (RGSA)  [erstwhile  Rajiv Gandhi  Panchayat  Sashaktikaran  Abhiyan  (RGPSA)],  the  MoPR    has  provided  financial assistance to the States for strengthening of Panchayati Raj across the country. From 201516,  funds  have  been  provided  for  training,  Training  infrastructure,  HR  for  training,  egovernance, PESA, IEC and PMU. The Government is also providing proactive support to the  States  to  develop  convergent  local  development  plans,  capacity  building  of  elected representatives,  Panchayat  functionaries  and  other  stakeholders,  improving  institutional support structures; to develop budgeting, accounting and auditing manuals and to improve the functioning of these grassroots level local self-governments  for proper and  efficient utilization of resources allocated for various developmental activities as per local felt needs. As  per  information  received  from  the  State  Governments,  26  States  have  formulated guidelines for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) to facilitate proper utilisation of funds under the Fourteenth Finance Commission award disbursed directly to the Gram Panchayats.

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