Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, UDIT RAJ, ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 121

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## EMPOWERMENT OF PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

† 121.  SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

DR. UDIT RAJ:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a)  whether Constitution 73rd Amendment Act 1992 brought about major changes in Panchayati Raj System;
- b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  in pursuance thereof;
- c)  whether  in  12th  five  year  plan  Approach  Paper  the  issues  have  not  been addressed  and  adequate  funds  were  not  provided  to  the  Panchayati  Raj Institutions by Union Government and the Central Finance Commission and if so, the details thereof; and
- d)  the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to ensure that Panchayati Raj Institutions are strengthened for holistic development of villages and are empowered to have greater say in their day to day functioning?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a)& (b): The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (73 rd CAA), 1992 incorporated as Part  IX  in  the  Constitution  has  rendered  Constitutional  Status  to  Panchayati  Raj Institutions (PRIs). The Constitution of India recognizes Panchayats as 'Institutions of  local  self-government'.  'Panchayats'  being  'Local  Bodies'  is  a  State  subject mandated under Part IX and List II (State List) of Seventh Schedule (Article 246) of the  Constitution  of  India.  Mandatory  provisions  under  Part  IX  of  the  Constitution incorporated by the 73rd Amendment which include three tiers of Panchayats, direct election to seats at all three tiers of Panchayats and indirect elections to offices of chairpersons of Block and District Panchayats, reservations in seats and offices for the  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs),  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  and  women,  rotation  of reserved  seats  and  offices  of  chairpersons  and  setting  up  of  State  Election Commissions  and  holding  elections  to  Panchayats  every  five  years  have  been implemented by all the States except delay in holding of timely elections in the Union Territory of Puducherry and in constitution of State Finance Commissions in some States.  Article  243G  of  Part  IX  of  the  Constitution  allows  discretion  to  State Legislatures to endow, to the Panchayats with powers and authority to enable them to  function  as  institutions  of  local  self-governance.  The  implementation  of  the provisions  of  Part  IX  of  the  Constitution  is  reviewed  by  MoPR  from  time  to  time through studies and discussions with States.

(c) & (d): 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) Approach Paper delved into the challenge that requires greater attention to ensure better implementation, improved accountability and impetus to several programmes aimed at building rural and urban infrastructure and  providing  basic  services  with  the  objective  of  increasing  inclusiveness  and reducing  poverty.    Accordingly,  the  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR)  has  been  taking several  steps  to  strengthen  the  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  in  the  States  and  Union Territories  covered  under  Part  IX  of  the  Constitution  through  provisioning  of  financial  and technical  assistance  for  capacity  building  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions,  including  Elected Representatives  (ERs),  so  that  they  can  effectively  discharge  their  assigned  functions. Under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) for the period 2015-20, grants to the  tune  of  Rs.  2,00,292.20  crore  are  being  devolved  to  Gram  Panchayats constituted under Part IX of the Constitution, for delivering basic services, technical &  administrative  support  towards  operations  and  maintenance,  creation  of  reliable data base of local bodies' receipts & expenditure through audited accounts and for improvement of own source revenue of the Gram Panchayats.

MoPR also incentivises the states which have devolved more functions, funds and functionaries to the Panchayats. The states are regularly assisted through issue of advisories, and for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans by the Gram Panchayats for effective development.

******