Lok Sabha Question No. 3416 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Strengthening of Panchayati Raj System
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Anubhav Mohanty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3416

ANSWERED ON:  21.03.2023

## STRENGTHENING OF PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM

## 3416. SHRI ANUBHAV MOHANTY

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the  names  of  schemes/programmes  launched  by  the  Government  to  strengthen Panchayati Raj System to improve rural areas of the country;
- (b) whether the Government has taken initiatives to increase participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  of  the  impact  of  increasing participation of women in PRIs on the basis of the social and economic conditions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) To  strengthen  Panchayati  Raj  System  and  thereby  improve  the  rural  areas  of  the country, 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 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building and training of the elected representatives and the functionaries of the PRIs, providing infrastructural support like Gram Panchayat Bhawan and Computerisation,   (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 egovernance 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 (No funds are released to States under the scheme).

(b) Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for not less than one-third reservation for women in PRIs out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. As per the information available with the Ministry, 21 States  namely,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh,  Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, and 2 UTs namely 'UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu' and 'UT of Lakshadweep' have made provision for 50% reservation for women in PRIs in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. In respect of remaining Part-IX States/UTs, Constitutional provision, as prescribed in Article 243D, applies.

Further,  Government has been encouraging increased involvement of women in the functioning  of  Panchayats  through  active  participation  in  the  Gram  Sabha  meetings  for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats. This Ministry has also issued advisories to the States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings, enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) The question does not arise in view of (c) above.