Lok Sabha Question No. 1501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-26
Subject: Restructured Schemes of RGSA
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1501 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/07/2018

## Restructured Schemes of RGSA

## 1501.  SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has launched new restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), for developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- (b) whether a Committee under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chairman-NITI Aayog was constituted to restructure the existing scheme of his Ministry as RGSA;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the recommendations made therein;
- (d) the salient features of the activities taken under RGSA for PRIs;
- (e) whether Gram Kisan Sabhas have been organized in Panchayats across the country under RGSA, if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Telangana; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  monitoring  mechanism  proposed  to  help  PRIs  deliver  Sustainable Development Goals?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Yes, Madam.

(c) A Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Vice-Chairman NITI Aayog to  review  the  schemes  of  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj,  to  review  the  existing  schemes  and examine the proposal of restructuring of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) to address the challenges faced by rural local bodies. The committee held several discussions, including consultations with Panchayat Elected Representatives (ERs) and Secretaries of Panchayati Raj departments of selected states during its deliberations. The committee also co-opted several sector  experts  and  had  extensive  discussions  and  in-depth  analysis  before  finalising  its recommendations. The recommendations of the Committee broadly included restructuring of Scheme as Centrally Sponsored Scheme with Central and State components with 60:40 sharing ratio for State component (90:10 for North East and Hill States), State component to include trainings/workshops,  administrative  and  technical  support  including  e-enablement  of  Gram Panchayats  (GPs)    and  GP  buildings,  with    Capacity  Building  (CB)  thrust  on  GPs  under Mission Antyodaya along with Panchayat ERs within 6 months of their election followed by focussed training on specialised subjects like e-enablement, participatory planning, leadership roles and account keeping etc within two years.

(d) The  scheme  envisages  enhancement  of  capacities  of  Panchayats  to  deliver  on Sustainable Development Goals, through a concerted capacity building process and expansion of outreach and coverage of training. It will strengthen Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of people's participation with focus on vulnerable groups. It will incorporate greater  thrust  for  e-enablement  of  Panchayats,  for  e-governance  to  enhance  efficiency  and transparency.

(e) There is no specific provision for organisation of Gram Kisan Sabhas under the scheme of  RGSA,  however  the  scheme  envisages  promoting  effective  and  inclusive  participatory planning  through  Gram  Sabha  by  converging  available  resources/  schemes  in  all  States including Telangana.

(f) The scheme provides for National Steering Committee (NSC) under the Chairmanship of  Hon'ble  Minister-Panchayati  Raj  for  providing  overall  policy  direction  and  a  Central Empowered Committee (CEC) headed by Secretary, Panchayati Raj to oversee implementation of  the  scheme.  It  also  provides  for  National  Plan  of  Technical  Assistance,  for  inter-alia assessment  of  CB  initiatives  of  all  States  /  UTs  and  setting  up  of  a  National  Project Management  Unit  comprising  of  domain  experts  and  consultants  for  providing  technical support for planning, implementation and monitoring.

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