Lok Sabha Question No. 1203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Training Facilities in PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1203 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/02/2017

## Training Facilities in PRIs

## 1203.  SHRI P. R. SUNDARAM:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  provided  adequate  funds  for  the  development  of infrastructure and training facilities in the village and town Panchayats in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  list  of  projects  pending  for  approval  by  the  Union Government during last three years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  introduced  any  special  innovative  training  schemes/ programme for town and village Panchayats in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the funds earmarked and allocated for such training programmes in the next three years, year-wise, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) &  (b)    Providing  infrastructural  facilities  for  Panchayats  and  Capacity  Building  & Training (CB&T) to the stakeholders of Panchayats is primarily the responsibility of the concerned  States  Governments.  However,  assistance  for  infrastructural  facilities  like construction and repairs of Panchayat Ghars, CB&T of the stakeholders of Panchayats, and  Institutional  Infrastructure  for  training  has  been  provided  by  Government  of  India under the erstwhile scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA). With effect from 2015-16, the financial support for construction and repair of Panchayat Ghars  under  RGPSA  was  discontinued  and  States  were  advised  to  pool  the  resources available  under  MGNREGS.  However,  the  support  towards  CB&T  and  Institutional

Infrastructure for training was continued under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). Funds to the tune of Rs. 675.17 crore, 1690.96 cr and 930.88 cr have been sanctioned towards construction and repair of Panchayat Bhawan, CB&T  and  Institutional Infrastructure  for  training  under  RGPSA/  RGSA.  The  scheme  is  demand  driven  and funds  are  released  to  States  on  the  basis  of  Annual  Plans  submitted  by  them  in consonance with scheme guidelines.

Besides, under the scheme of Backward Region Grant Funds (BRGF), which was applicable  to  272  districts,  financial  assistance  was  provided  to  States  for  filling  up critical gaps which also included construction of Panchayat Bhawans and also for CB&T under its Capacity Building (CB) component. Funds to the tune of Rs. 88.15 cr. had been released to States under CB component of the scheme.

The Government also provides financial support for research activities, training courses, seminars, workshops and conferences etc on the topics relating to Urban Local Self Governance.

(c) &  (d) An  innovative  training  programme  (Gramodaya  Hamara  Sankalp)  for Sarpanches  and  Panchayat  Secretaries  was  organized  from  30 th November  to  2 nd December 2016 at New Delhi wherein, besides Sarpanches and GP Secretaries from 8 States  viz.  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Haryana,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Gujarat,  Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, technical experts and faculties of reputed academic institutions and officers from various Ministries participated.  The thematic areas relating to  Panchayat  Governance  were  discussed  through  power  point  presentations  and  panel discussions, nukkad natak and experience sharing by some best performing panchayats. Besides,  exposure  visit  for  the  participants  were  also  organised.  The  program  was successful and very well received.

(e)  The  budgetary  allocation  for  RGSA  for  2016-17  and  2017-18,  which  includes components of CB&T of stakeholders of Panchayats and innovative training programs, is Rs.  655  crore  and  Rs.  691.90  crore  respectively.  The  budget  allocation  for  research activities,  training  courses,  seminars,  workshops  and  conferences  etc  on  the  topics relating to Urban Local Self Governance for the year 2016-17& 2017-18 is Rs. 11.42 Cr and  Rs.12.00 Cr respectively.