Lok Sabha Question No. 1204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Functioning of Panchayati Raj System
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1204

ANSWERED ON-09.02.2021

## FUNCTIONING OF PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM

## 1204. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has in place, any system for monitoring and analyzing the functioning of Panchayati Raj system in the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  received  proposals  from  the  State  Government  of  Kerala regarding release of funds under Panchayati Raj system during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, district-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a)& (b) The subject Panchayats, which is part of 'Local Government', is included in the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The implementation of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution is reviewed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) from time to time through studies and discussions in review meetings with the States. The performance of the Panchayats depends on the extent of powers and resources devolved to them, which varies from State to State. The performance of Panchayats is also monitored by the State Governments. MoPR supports States in building capacities of Panchayats for rural governance. It also helps States in developing  guidelines  for  participatory  planning  by  Panchayats  and  preparation  of  Gram Panchayat Development Plans; bring in efficiency, transparency and accountability for achieving development objectives. Further, with a vision to digitalize Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for empowering rural India, Ministry has developed a simplified work based accounting applicationeGramSwaraj (egramswaraj.gov.in) to address various aspects of Panchayat functioning including planning, budgeting, implementation, accounting and monitoring to make them more transparent, accountable and effective as organs of decentralized self-governing institutions.The Ministry has also launched the application of AuditOnline with a view to ensure timely online availability of audited accounts of Panchayats.

(c)  &(d)  For  strengthening  the  Panchayati  Raj  System,  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  has  been releasing funds under the schemes of 'Capacity Building- Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan' (CBPSA) and 'Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' (RGSA) to the State Governments, including the State of Kerala. Under the Central Finance Commission also funds have been released to the State of Kerala. State Government of Kerala through utilization certificate has informed that Central Finance Commission funds have been transferred to the respective Panchayats for implementation. Funds released to the State of Kerala, during last three years (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20) and current year (2020-21, till January, 2021), are given as under-

|   S. No. | Year                         | (CB-PSA/ RGSA)* (Rs. in Crore)   | 14 th Finance Commission (Rs. in Crore)               | 15 th Finance Commission (Rs. in Crore)            |
|----------|------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2017-18                      | 23.36*                           | 773.54                                                | Nil. 15 th Finance Commission started from 2020-21 |
|        2 | 2018-19                      | 7.68                             | 802.78                                                | Nil. 15 th Finance Commission started from 2020-21 |
|        3 | 2019-20                      | 0.00                             | 1084.73                                               | Nil. 15 th Finance Commission started from 2020-21 |
|        4 | 2020-21 (till January, 2021) | 5.746                            | Nil. 14 th Finance Commission tenure ended in 2019-20 | 1221.00                                            |

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