Lok Sabha Question No. 616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QESTION NO - 616

ANSWERED ON-25.06.2019

## PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTES

## †616. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the members of registered and functional Panchayati Raj Institutions in various parts of the country as on date;

(b)  whether  the  planning  and  implementation  of  many  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  is  being done by Panchayats in the country;

(c) if so, the details of such schemes;

- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  financial  assistance  directly  to  the  Gram Panchayats to reduce the time gap between availability of the funds and the distribution thereof;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be done; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  The  total  number  of  the  members  of  registered  and  functional  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions (PRI) in various parts of the country as on date is approximately 31 lakhs.

(b) and (c) The subject 'Local Government', of which the PRIs are part of, is the subject-matter of States' power to legislate under the Constitution.  The role and powers of PRIs in the State depend on the devolution made  by the  States/  Union  Territories  to  the  PRIs.  Accordingly  the functions  of  Panchayats  pertaining  to  planning  and  implementation  of  Centrally  Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) vary from State to State. Among the major CSSs, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  Pradhan  Manti  Awaas  Yojana  and National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, Panchayats have significant roles and responsibilities.

(d)  The  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR)  has  been  taking  steps  through  its  Schemes  and Programmes to strengthen the PRIs in the States and Union Territories, through provisioning of financial and technical assistance. The measures taken by MoPR include advocacy and advisories to  the  States  to  devolve  more  functions,  funds  and  functionaries  to  Panchayats,  providing financial and technical assistance for capacity building of Panchayats to enable them to perform effectively and efficiently, strengthening systems of budgeting, accounting and auditing, assist in deployment of Information Technology applications for enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency of PRIs.  Further a modality of  Incentivisation  to  PRIs  has  been  put  in  place  to reward good performance in PRIs, as well as tools are provided to the States to formulate, bring about convergence  in the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).

(e) and (f) Presently, no such proposal is under Consideration. However, FFC grants are being distributed directly to Gram Panchayats by Govt. of India.

(g)  Government  of  India  has  put  in  place  a  Public  Finance  Management  System  (PFMS)  for efficient fund flow and expenditure management network.  The Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) grants for Gram Panchayats (GPs) are released to the State Governments through Public Finance Management System (PFMS) for onward digital transfer to the accounts of GPs within 15 days of its receipt. In case of delay beyond 15 days, the State Government has to pay penal interest from its own funds at the Reserve Bank of India rate to the GPs.

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