Lok Sabha Question No. 1578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: e-Panchayat
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE, RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## E-PANCHAYAT

## 1578. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM: SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  e-panchayat  Mission  Mode  Project  (MMP)  for implementation of e-governance in panchayats;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the budgetary allocation under the programme during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) the progress made in regard to the implementation of the programme alongwith number of panchayats  which  have  not  yet  been  computerised  and  connected  through  Internet  and  the response of the Government thereto;

- (d) whether any survey or assessment has been made on the implementation of the programme if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of e-governance in panchayats ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Panchayat  Raj  is  implementing  e-Panchayat  Mission  Mode Project that seeks to transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), making them more transparent, accountable and effective as organs of decentralized self-governing institutions.
- (b) Under  e-Panchayat  MMP,  a  suite  of  Core  Common  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). The budgetary allocation for the project for 2016-17 is Rs. 22 crore. There  is  no  State-wise  allocation.  Since  e-Panchayat  was  dovetailed  in  the  Rajiv  Gandhi

Panchayat Sashkatikaran Abhiyan scheme of the Ministry in 2012-13, no separate allocation was made for e-Panchayat in the last three years.

- (c) The  level  of  adoption  of  various  PES  Applications  varies  due  to  differentials  in  the preparedness of Panchayats for e-enablement. Besides, certain States like Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal have also developed some of their own State-specific software as per requirements. To overcome constraints of internet connectivity, the BharatNet project is being implemented by the Department of Telecommunications for connecting all the Gram Panchayats in the country through Optical Fiber Cable and providing high speed broadband at Panchayat level.
- (d) The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology conducted a study on the 'Impact of ICT Applications in Panchayats to create a Baseline for e-Services'. The study covered 19 States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  during  the  year  2013.  As  per  the  findings  of  the  baseline study, there is a significant improvement in the efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency of PRIs after Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enablement of panchayats.
- (e) The progress is reviewed periodically during field visits and meetings with the officials of the States.  For  effective  implementation  of  the  Project,  workshops/trainings  are  organised  to demonstrate  the  applications  to  the  State  Government  functionaries.  The  Ministry  also provides  trained  faculty  to  impart  trainings  on  software  applications.  Furthermore,  the States/UTs  are encouraged  to  adopt  the  software  applications and  better  performing States/UTs are awarded annual e-Puraskars.

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