Lok Sabha Question No. 3675 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: Corruption in PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3675

ANSWERED ON- 16.07.2019

## CORRUPTION IN PRIs

## 3675. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  has  been  corruption  in  Panchayati  Raj Institutions (PRIs) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to bring about changes in the Panchayati Raj System in order to strengthen it and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the views of State Governments have been taken in this regard and if so, the details thereof  along  with  the  reaction  of  the  Union  Government  to  incorporate  their  views  while making such changes; and

(d)  whether  any  study/assessment  has  been  made  on  the  performance  of  the  Panchayati  Raj System and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  Panchayat is a State subject and  as set out in Article 243G of the Constitution, it is the State Legislatures who may by law endow `the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary  to  enable  them  to  function  as  institutions  of  self-government`.  Accordingly,  States have  enacted  Panchayati  Raj  Acts  for  functioning  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  (PRI).  It  is primarily the responsibility of State Governments to monitor the implementation of works, the delivery  of  services  and  there  are  provisions  for  appropriate  action  in  case  of  complaints pertaining to PRIs under respective States.

(b) Panchayat is a State subject, accordingly the responsibility to take steps towards strengthening  Panchayati  Raj  primarily  lies  with  the  State  Governments/  Union  Territory Administrations.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  is  implementing  the  scheme  of Rashtriya  Gram  Swaraj  Abhiyan  (RGSA)  to  support  State  Governments/  Union  Territory

Administrations  in  this  effort.  The  activities  permissible  under  RGSA  for  strengthening  the Panchayati Raj System include providing capacity building and training of Elected Representatives and Panchayat functionaries.

- (c)  The  views  and  feedback  from  the  State  Governments  is  continuously  taken  towards formulation or modification of implementation guidelines of RGSA.
- (d)  The  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  had  been  carrying  out  an  annual  study  in  the  form  of 'Panchayat  Devolution  Index'  (PDI)  from  2006  onwards,  through  independent  institutions,  to assess and rank each State in the matters of devolution of Funds, Functions and Functionaries to Panchayats.  Twenty  six  States  and  six  Union  Territories  (UTs)  participated  in  the  Panchayat Devolution Index (PDI) study for the year 2015-16. The following States ranked higher on PDI were conferred citation awards on the National Panchayati Raj Day held on  24th April, 2016.

## Cumulative Devolution Index Awards

| Name of State   | Rank                                          |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Kerala          | First                                         |
| Maharashtra     | Second                                        |
| Karnataka       | Third                                         |
| Sikkim          | First among NE States and over all rank Sixth |

## Incremental Devolution Index Awards

| Name of State   | Rank   |
|-----------------|--------|
| Andhra Pradesh  | First  |
| Sikkim          | Second |
| Odisha          | Third  |

## Ranking of States having Fifth Scheduled Areas

| Name of State   | Rank   |
|-----------------|--------|
| Gujarat         | First  |
| Madhya Pradesh  | First  |

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