Lok Sabha Question No. 4427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Social Justice and Equality at Panchayat Level
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Devendrappa Y, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Devji Mansingram Patel, Saikia Dilip

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 4427

ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

## SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY AT PANCHAYAT LEVEL

†4427.    SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIK NIMBALKAR SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL SHRI DILIP SAIKIA

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps that have been taken to establish social justice and equality at the panchayat level in the country;
- (b) the  details  of  the  schemes  related  to  the  empowerment  of  panchayats  in  the  States  of Karnataka, Maharashtra and North East setting targets and achieving them during the last four years; and
- (c) the  details  of  rights  that  have  been  given  to  the  local  panchayat  unit  to  provide  basic services like education, health, housing, etc. to the rural population of the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) Provisions of Part-IX of the Constitution of India strengthen the foundation of democracy at grassroots  level  by  ensuring  social  and  political  empowerment  of  the  weaker  sections  of  the society. Article 243D of the Constitution empowers the States to ensure participation of SCs, STs, women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by mandating not less than one-third reservation for these  categories  in  their  respective  State  Panchayat  Laws.  Further,  States  have  also  been empowered to make any provision for reservation in any Panchayat in favour of backward class of citizens. Article 243G of the Constitution empowers the States to ensure involvement of persons elected from reserved category of SCs, STs, women and backward class of citizens in decision making and preparation of plan for development of Panchayats.

(b) To empower the Panchayats in the country including in the state of Karnataka, Maharashtra and North-eastern States, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is implementing the (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with the primary objective of strengthening PRIs by way of capacity building and training of the elected representatives and the functionaries of the PRIs, (ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a Central Components of RGSA scheme to  encourage  competitive  spirit  among  PRIs  under  which,  Awards  including  financial incentives are given to best performing Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery  of  services  and  public  good,  (iii)  Mission  Mode  Project  on  e-Panchayats,  a  Central component  of  RGSA  scheme  under  which  various  e-governance  projects  are  funded  towards digitalization  of  Panchayats  to  bring  in  efficiency,  accountability  and  transparency  in  the functioning of the PRIs for overall transformation of PRIs.

(c) Article 243G of the Constitution stipulates States to endow the Panchayats with powers and authority to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and prepare and implement plans for economic development and social justice including for matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.

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