Lok Sabha Question No. 4732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Internet Connectivity in Panchayats
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: NINONG ERING, SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4732

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN PANCHAYATS

## †4732. SHRI NINONG ERING: SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Union Government for the effective e-governance at panchayat level particularly through e-Panchayat Mission Mode project;

(b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  poor  IT  infrastructure  and  internet connectivity in Panchayats and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government has allocated funds to States including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for provision of computers in each panchayat during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise;

(d) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  framework  for  providing  effective  use  of technology at panchayat level, including targeted training modules for rural citizens; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, region-wise including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj  (MoPR) is implementing e-Panchayat, a Mission Mode Project that seeks to completely transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions, making them more transparent, accountable and effective as last mile cutting edge units of decentralized local self-governments. Under e-Panchayat, a suite of Core Common Software Applications has been  developed  to  address  various  aspects  of  Panchayats'  functioning  including  planning, budgeting, implementation, accounting, monitoring, social audit and delivery of citizen services like  issue  of  certificates,  licences  etc.  Together  these  applications  constitute  the  Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES).

(b) Lack  of  internet  connectivity  and  IT  infrastructure  continue  to  pose  hindrances  in  the proper  implementation  of  e-Governance  activities  at  Gram  Panchayat  (GP)  level.  Due  to differentials  in  the  level  of  preparedness  for  e-enablement  at  the  Panchayat  level,  the  pace  of adoption  of  e-Governance  has  varied  across  and  within  the  States/UTs.  To  support  GPs  in overcoming these bottlenecks, the GPs have been permitted to use upto 10% of the Basic Grant funds  available  with  them  under  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission  (FFC)  for  purchase  of computers, internet connectivity, data entry etc. as per the guidelines of FFC. Furthermore, the BharatNet  project  is  also  being  implemented  by  the  Department  of  Telecommunications  for connecting  all  the  GPs  in  the  country  through  Optical  Fiber  Cable  and  providing  high  speed broadband at Panchayat level.

(c) Under the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan/ new Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (Capacity Building-Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan), MoPR provided financial assistance to States/UTs for e-enablement including computers and peripherals. However, w.e.f 2015-16  no  funds  for  purchase  of  computers  have  been  provided  under  e-enablement.  The State/UT-wise details of funds sanctioned by the MoPR for this during the last three years and current year are given at Annexure.

(d) & (e) User Manuals, Brochures, Frequently Asked Questions and Multi-media enabled Computer Based Tutorials have been developed for all PES Applications to demonstrate the use of each feature of these applications to the user. Furthermore, MoPR also provides trainings to State-level Master Trainers on PES applications. Besides, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is implementing various schemes that provide digital education and literacy to the masses in the country, including the rural citizens.

*******

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.4732 answered on 30.03.2017

State/UT-wise details of funds sanctioned under e-enablement component, including computers and peripherals, during the last three years and current year.

| Sl. No.   | States              | Amount Sanctioned - (Rs. in crore)   | Amount Sanctioned - (Rs. in crore)   | Amount Sanctioned - (Rs. in crore)   | Amount Sanctioned - (Rs. in crore)   |
|-----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | States              | 2013-14                              | 2014-15                              | 2015-16*                             | 2016-17*                             |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh      | 24.23                                | 6.53                                 | 0.76                                 | 12.59                                |
| 2         | Assam               | 8.80                                 | 4.40                                 | 1.26                                 | 1.20                                 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh   | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.07                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 4         | Bihar               | 0.40                                 | 7.32                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh        | 0.00                                 | 8.00                                 | 2.96                                 | 2.29                                 |
| 6         | Chandigarh          | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 7         | Daman &Diu          | 0.05                                 | 0.18                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 8         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 0.04                                 | 0.14                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 9         | Goa                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.33                                 | 0.01                                 |
| 10        | Gujarat             | 0.00                                 | 4.31                                 | 3.25                                 | 4.82                                 |
| 11        | Haryana             | 4.57                                 | 3.68                                 | 0.00                                 | 1.40                                 |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh    | 0.00                                 | 7.64                                 | 0.51                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 13        | Jammu &Kashmir      | 4.12                                 | 6.19                                 | 1.50                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 14        | Jharkhand           | 4.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 2.05                                 | 2.09                                 |
| 15        | Karnataka           | 0.00                                 | 2.52                                 | 1.37                                 | 1.32                                 |
| 16        | Kerala              | 0.00                                 | 9.78                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 17        | Lakshadweep         | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.06                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 18        | Maharashtra         | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 3.06                                 |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh      | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 20        | Manipur             | 0.26                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.26                                 | 0.18                                 |
| 21        | Mizoram             | 0.00                                 | 0.48                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 22        | Odisha              | 11.21                                | 5.61                                 | 0.88                                 | 1.12                                 |
| 23        | Punjab              | 0.00                                 | 0.40                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.94                                 |
| 24        | Rajasthan           | 0.91                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 3.54                                 |
| 25        | Sikkim              | 0.70                                 | 0.70                                 | 0.28                                 | 0.31                                 |
| 26        | Tamil Nadu          | 50.09                                | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.61                                 |
| 27        | Telangana           | 0.00                                 | 8.22                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 28        | Tripura             | 2.24                                 | 0.08                                 | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 29        | Uttar Pradesh       | 0.00                                 | 40.00                                | 0.00                                 | 0.00                                 |
| 30        | Uttarakhand         | 0.00                                 | 4.00                                 | 3.64                                 | 0.62                                 |
| 31        | West Bengal         | 1.60                                 | 2.03                                 | 0.89                                 | 0.91                                 |
|           | Total               | 113.22                               | 122.21                               | 20.07                                | 37.01                                |