Lok Sabha Question No. 2536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Computerisation of Panchayats
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2536 ANSWERED ON 27.12.2018

## COMPUTERISATION OF PANCHAYATS

## 2536. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  an  Expert  Group  on  information  technology  programmes  of  the  Ministry  of Panchayati  Raj  has  recommended  the  computerisation  of  all  the  panchayats  in  the  country within a stipulated time frame;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the action taken by the Government on these recommendations and the expenditure likely to be incurred in this regard, State-wise; and

(d) the manner in which the required funds are likely to be generated for the purpose?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  Yes.    Keeping  in  view  the  strategic  importance  of  computerization  at  the  Gram Panchayat level, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) had constituted an Expert Group in June 2007 to assess the current and future Information Technology (IT) programmes of the Ministry,  to  recommend  most  cost-effective  technologies  for  reaching  IT  to  the  Gram Panchayats,  the  use  of  IT  for  effectively  building  capacities  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions through  distance  learning  and  the  cost  implications  of  the  recommendations.  The  major recommendations were as follows:

-  Gram  Panchayats  and  Block  Panchayats  need  to  be  equipped  with  computers  and associated infrastructure.
-  Use  of  open  technology  which  includes  open  standards,  open  source  and  other  similar open initiatives as the basis for technology options.
-  States should have autonomy in defining and developing their own application software to address State specific functionalities while at the same time development of application software for core common functions centrally.
-  Multi-mode training interventions using Information & Communication Technology and satellite-based technologies should be adopted.

(c) & (d)  Work relating to Information and Service Needs Assessment, Business Process Reengineering and preparation of Detailed Project Report had been completed in 27 States/Union Territories(UTs) in 2009-10. Based on these studies,  a suite of  core software applications  commonly  known  as  Panchayat  Enterprise  Suite  (PES)  under  e-Panchayat Mission  Mode  Project  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, licenses, tax collection etc.

For the current year 2018-19 in Budget Estimate, Ministry of Panchayati Raj made a provision  of  Rs.  20  Crores  for  the  e-Panchayat  MMP.  Panchayat  being  a  State  subject, providing basic infrastructure including computers, net connectivity etc. and computerisation of  panchayats  are  primarily  the  responsibility  of  concerned  State  Government/  Union Territories  (UTs)  administration.  The  expenditure  on  computerisation  of  Panchayats  is largely borne by States/UTs. However, Government has taken initiatives for computerisation of the panchayats by providing Computers/ internet/e-Panchayat facility in the country.

Upto 10% of the Grants under Fourteenth Finance Commission can be used by Gram Panchayats (GPs) as technical and administrative support towards Operation & Maintenance and  Capital  expenditure.  Among  other  activities,  expenditure  towards  (i)  purchase  of computer and accessories as well as cost of Annual Maintenance in GPs, which do not have any  computer  at  present  and  (ii)  one-time  cost  for  providing  internet  connectivity  and recurring charges can also be incurred from the 10 % Operation & Maintenance expenditure.

Under  the  erstwhile  scheme  of  Rajiv  Gandhi  Panchayat  Sashaktikaran  Abhiyan (RGPSA), Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) had provided financial assistance to States/ UTs  for  e-enablement  including  computers  and  peripherals  till  2014-15.  Under  the  newly launched scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), funds have been provided to States/UTs for purchasing computer for their e-enablement on a limited scale.

For  attaining  the  vision  of  Digital  India,  Department  of  Telecommunications  is implementing the BharatNet project in a phased manner to create network to connect all the Gram  Panchayats  in  the  country  by  broadband.  As  on  16 th December  2018,  a  total  of 1,16,543  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  have  been  made  Service  Ready.  As  part  of  BharatNet project, the Last Mile connectivity is sought to provide through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology to access broadband /internet services to all the GPs in the country.

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