Lok Sabha Question No. 3515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3515

ANSWERED ON-10.08.2021

## FUNCTIONING OF PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## 3515.  SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has set some fixed norms recently to examine the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number of proposals received by the Government to release funds under Panchayat Raj Yojana and the action taken by the Government thereon during the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  provide  additional  funds  to  improve  the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) & (b) The Constitution of India envisages for Panchayats to function as institutions of selfgovernment and prepare plans and implement schemes for economic development and social justice.  Accordingly,  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR)  seeks  to  make  Panchayati  Raj Institutions (PRIs) an effective, efficient and transparent vehicle for local governance, social change and public service delivery  mechanism  meeting the  aspirations  of  local  population through policy interventions, advocacy, capacity building, persuasion and financial support. To  strengthen  functioning  of  PRIs  across  the  country,  MoPR  has  launched  eGramSwaraj (https://egramswaraj.gov.in), a user friendly web-based portal, which aims to bring in better transparency in the decentralised planning, progress reporting, financial management, workbased accounting and details of assets created. Further, for ensuring timely audit of Panchayat accounts i.e. receipts and expenditures of Gram Panchayats, MoPR has rolled out an online application - AuditOnline (https://auditonline.gov.in). This application not only facilitates the auditing  of  Panchayat  accounts  but  also  provides  for  maintaining  of  audit  records.  This application streamlines the process for audit inquiries, draft local audit reports, draft auditparas  etc.  and  thus  ensures  proper  maintenance  of  accounts  by  Panchayats  to  improve transparency and accountability.

(c) There is no scheme of Panchayat Raj Yojana in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. MoPR has been  providing  programmatic  support  for  strengthening  of  PRIs  and  capacity  building  of Elected Representatives and functionaries of PRIs  to improve  their functioning and effectiveness  and  make  them  self  reliant.  These  programs  are  specifically  focused  on addressing the critical gaps that constrain the functioning of Panchayats, facilitating democratic planning and decision making  through People's participation, and strengthening the institutional structure of Panchayats.

The Government has launched the core Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), which is being implemented from 2018-19 to 2021-22, with the primary  aim  of  developing  governance  capabilities  of  PRIs  to  deliver  on  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the main thrust on convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening PRIs in the 117 Aspirational districts. The scheme of RGSA extends to all States/Union Territories including institutions of Rural Local Government in Non-PartIX areas. Details of Annual Action Plan (AAP) approved of the States/Union Territories and funds released thereunder during the year 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and current year 202122 (upto month of July) under the scheme of RGSA are at Annexure .

(d) Article 280 (3) (bb) of the Constitution of India provides for the Finance Commission to make recommendations regarding the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a  State  to  supplement  the  resources  of  the  Panchayats  in  the  State  on  the  basis  of  the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State. Accordingly, to improve the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions, funds have been recommended by Central Finance Commissions successively.

Funds  released  by  Government  in  pursuance  of  recommendations  of  Central  Finance Commission are as under:-

(Figures in Rs. Crore)

| Central Finance Commission   | Award period   | Recommendation   | Released   |
|------------------------------|----------------|------------------|------------|
| 14 th                        | 2015-20        | 2,00,292.20      | 183278.54  |
| 15 th (Interim)              | 2020-21        | 60,750.00        | 60,559.00  |
| 15 th (Final Report)         | 2021-26        | 2,36,805.00      | 8923.80*   |

*Till 6 th August, 2021

\_\_\_\_\_

## Annexure

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (c)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  3515 answered on 10.08.2021.

State/ Union Territory-wise details of Annual Action Plan (AAP) approved and funds released during year 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 under scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana

( Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State/Union Territory   | 2018-19      | 2018-19   | 2019-20      | 2019-20   | 2020-21      | 2020-21   | 2021-22      | 2021-22   |
|-----------|-------------------------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State/Union Territory   | AAP approved | Released  | AAP approved | Releas ed | AAP approved | Released  | AAP approved | Released  |
| 1         | Andaman& Nicobar Island | 1.5          | -         | 1.69         | -         | 1.253        | -         | 2.255        | -         |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh          | 128.54       | 67.69     | 183.84       | -         | 203.489      | 22.339    | 497.13       | -         |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh       | 40.72        | 33.19     | 46.58        | 39.59     | 15.65        | -         | -            | -         |
| 4         | Assam                   | 77.27        | 39.21     | 76.02        | 23.22     | 88.14        | 26.1159   | 131.44       | -         |
| 5         | Bihar                   | 108.02       | 4.25      | 76.24        | -         | 105.71       | -         | 268.9        | 23.433    |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh            | 25.87        | 7.24      | 37.29        | -         | 36.57        | 4.0395    | 64.873       | 7.929     |
| 7         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli     | 1.628        | -         | 2.9          | -         | 4.55         | -         | 6.94         | -         |
| 8         | Daman &Diu              | 1.21         | -         | 0.89         | -         |              |           |              |           |
| 9         | Goa                     | 4.39         | -         | 3.71         | -         | 3.7163       | -         | 5.495        | 0.594     |
| 10        | Gujarat                 | 27.92        | -         | 55.09        | -         | 20.24        | -         | 55.07        | -         |
| 11        | Haryana                 | 55.55        | 6.99      | 136.48       | -         | 188.534      | 9.89      | 241.09       | -         |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh        | 19.18        | 17.26     | 127.95       | 10        | 128.18       | 22.098    | 164.43       | -         |
| 13        | Jammu& Kashmir          | 49.51        | 25.06     | 197.21       | 6.19      | 173.48       | 25        | 281.1        | -         |
| 14        | Jharkhand               | 28.53        | 4.49      | 34.62        | -         | 28.659       | 2.34      | 90.35        | -         |
| 15        | Karnataka               | 66.08        | -         | 71.03        | -         | 116.7        | 0.439     | 195.11       | 29.1495   |
| 16        | Kerala                  | 51.78        | 7.68      | 52.81        | -         | 44.34        | 8.129     | 52.79        | -         |
| 17        | Ladakh                  | -            | -         | -            | -         | 8.594        | 2.1485    | 8.6          | -         |
| 18        | Lakshadweep             | -            | -         | -            | -         | 1.1418       | -         | -            | -         |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh          | 215.29       | 62.79     | 229.84       | 85.48     | 320.809      | 71.42     | 355.89       | 47.1075   |
| 20        | Maharashtra             | 102.54       | 11.54     | 119.71       | 8.44      | 233          | 66.76     | 222.79       | -         |
| 21        | Manipur                 | 20.6         | 9.25      | 15.51        | 4.54      | 7.7          | 3.4127    | 9.288        | -         |
| 22        | Meghalaya               | 9.86         | 4.44      | 15.02        | 2.63      | 16.906       | 3.967     | 34.863       | -         |
| 23        | Mizoram                 | 10.97        | 9.85      | 9.88         | 0.503     | 13.585       | 21.185    | 16.52        | -         |
| 24        | Nagaland                | 8.76         | 7.89      | 10.14        | 3.94      | 11.27        | 3.7217    | 26.38        | -         |
| 25        | Odisha                  | 50.68        | -         | 28.55        | -         | 21.49        | 2.937     | 30           | -         |
| 26        | Puducherry              | -            | -         | 4.01         | -         | 4.667        | -         | -            | -         |
| 27        | Punjab                  | 98.93        | 29.68     | 91.12        | -         | 89.875       | 13.45     | 71.54        | -         |
| 28        | Rajasthan               | 61.81        | 25.57     | 83.31        | -         | 103.04       | 12.981    | 144.52       | -         |
| 29        | Sikkim                  | 11.29        | 5.08      | 11.80        | 5.095     | 15.069       | 4.7475    | 16.283       | -         |
| 30        | Tamil Nadu              | 96           | 57.6      | 190.37       | 5.3       | 282.78       | 56.875    | 307.37       | 39.8922   |
| 31        | Telangana               | 66.75        | -         | 279.52       | -         | 242.868      | 12        | 272.34       | -         |
| 32        | Tripura                 | 7.5          | 2.77      | 16.51        | -         | 14.176       | 2.5304    | 29.828       | -         |
| 33        | Uttar Pradesh           | 249.24       | 57.14     | 842.45       | 169.92    | 598.55       | 32.5407   | 565.5        | 83.08     |
| 34        | Uttarakhand             | 37.37        | 33.05     | 62.80        | 23.79     | 42.68        | 26.751    | 49.59        | -         |
| 35        | West Bengal             | 91.59        | 54.94     | 98.24        | 44.1      | 115.53       | 33.52     | 106.9        | 15.14     |

| Sub-Total                          | 1826.878   |   584.65 | 3213.13   | 432.74   |   3302.942 | 491.3379   | 4325.183 6   | 246.325   |
|------------------------------------|------------|----------|-----------|----------|------------|------------|--------------|-----------|
| Other Implementing Agencies/Others | -          |    13.62 | - 0.16    | -        |     8.5902 |            | -            | -         |
| Total                              | 1826.878   |   598.27 | 3213.13   | 432.90   |  3302.94   | 499.9281   | 4325.183 6   | 246.325   |

(-) Funds have not been released or approved.

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