Lok Sabha Question No. 2846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Training of Elected Women Representatives of Panchayats
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2846

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04/01/2018

## Training of Elected Women Representatives of Panchayats

## 2846. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  an  intensive  training  programme  for  the Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  of  the  opinion  that  this  is  necessary  for  the  successful functioning of the PRIs;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the major proposals of this programme; and
- (e) whether the Government has earmarked adequate funds for the programme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e)  In  the  context  of  substantial  increase  in  public  expenditure  through Panchayats, it has become imperative to enhance the capacities of Elected Representatives including Elected Women  representatives and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) so as to improve their service delivery, and enable them to become more  responsive  towards  local  developmental  needs.  The  Capacity  Building  & Training of Elected Women Representatives are very important as they are substantial in number and their contributions have been positively improving the performance of PRIs.

The Ministry, under the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)/ Capacity Building-Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (CB-PSA) [erstwhile scheme of Rajiv  Gandhi  Panchayat  Sashaktikaran  Abhiyan  (RGPSA)]  has  been  providing financial  and  technical  support  to  the  States  for  Capacity  Building  and  Training (CB&T) of  elected  representatives  and  functionaries  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions including  Elected  Women  Representatives  (EWRs).  During  the  current  year  the budgetary  allocation  (BE)  under  CB-PSA  is  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  691.9  crore.  The following  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  under  the scheme:

- (i) Leveraging technology for greater outreach amongst the large number of Elected Representatives  and functionaries of Panchayats, through use of virtual classrooms for distance learning, use of smartphone based applications, use of social media, utilizing short films on best practices of Panchayats and use of portable hand held projectors for wider outreach
- (ii) Trainings  on  subjects  of  national  importance  viz.  water  conservation, sanitation,  health,  education,  rural  development,  women  empowerment, digital transactions, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) etc.
- (iii) Enhanced focus on trainings on formulation and implementation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs)
- (iv) Scaling  up  of  Exposure  visits  by  Panchayat  members  to  GPs  with  best practices
- (v) Flexibility to States to evolve State specific training plans
- (vi) Enhanced role to National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR)  for  improved quality of training, online training programmes and support to State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs) / Panchayati Raj Training Institutes (PRTIs)
- (vii) Innovative  training  programmes  for  Panchayat  ERs  and  functionaries involving subjects of national importance and with involvement of subject matter experts incorporating various training methodologies
- (viii) Conference of State Panchayati Raj Ministers' to discuss sectoral issues, capacity building for Panchayats, best practices and way forward for the States
- (ix) National  workshops,  writeshops,  video  conferences  etc  organized  at regular intervals
- (x) Online applications developed to cater to various aspects of Panchayats' functioning  including  planning,  budgeting,  implementation,  accounting, monitoring, social audit and delivery of citizen services

Further,  the  new  restructured  scheme  of  Rashtriya  Gram  Swaraj  Abhiyan (RGSA) aims at strengthening capacities of PRIs for inclusive local governance with focus  on  optimum  utilisation  of  available  resources  and  improved  service  delivery with a view to attain to SDGs.

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