Lok Sabha Question No. 2759 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: e-Gram Swaraj Portal
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2759

ANSWERED ON 02.08.2022

## E-GRAM SWARAJ PORTAL

## †2759. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to State:

- (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to promote e-governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs);
- (b) the details of objectives, domain and success of e Gram Swaraj Portal launched by the Government to facilitate decentralised planning, reporting of progress and accounting;
- (c) the amount of funds allocated and issued for development of the portal;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  regarding  intended  impact  and benefits;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details of the financial management measures for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) which are proposed to be handed over to e Gram Swaraj?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) Under Digital India Programme, Ministry is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) with the aim to transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by making them more transparent, accountable, and effective.

(b) The  Ministry  launched  eGramSwaraj,  a  work-based  comprehensive  application  for PRIs under the e-Panchayat MMP on 24th April 2020. This application encompasses all aspects of Panchayat functioning viz. planning, budgeting, accounting, monitoring, asset management etc, on a single digital platform including online payments. So far, 2.53 lakh GPs have prepared and  uploaded  their  Gram  Panchayat  Development  Plans  (GPDPs)for  2022-23.  Under  14th Finance  Commission,  1.44  lakh  GPs  and  91,607  GPs  have  carried  out  online  transactions during  2020-21  and  2021-22  respectively.  Similarly,  1.93  lakh  GPs  have  carried  online transactions under 15 th Finance Commission during 2021-22.

(c) Under  e-Panchayat  Mission  Mode  Project  funds  are  being  provided  to  National Informatics  Center  Services  Inc.  (NICSI)  for  central  level  support  for  maintenance  of  ePanchayat applications including eGramSwaraj. During 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 funds to the tune of Rs. 7.25 Crore, 17.79 Crore and 11.71 Crore respectively are released to NICSI under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project.

(d) & (e) The Ministry constantly engages with the States through virtual and physical training and enablement for States to adopt the eGramSwaraj application. All States are making efforts to implement e-Panchayat MMP, based on their available resources. However, due to differentials in the level of preparedness of Panchayats across the country, States are at different stages of implementing these applications.

(f) eGramSwaraj has been integrated with Public Financial Management System (PFMS), called eGramSwaraj-PFMS Interface (eGSPI), for tracking fund flow under Central Finance Commission  provided  to  the  Panchayats  and  carrying  out  real  time  payments  to  service providers.  eGSPI  envisages  to  establish  sound  financial  management  system,  enhance transparency and accountability of Panchayats. Further, for strengthening financial management of PRIs, Ministry also launched an application - AuditOnline, on 15th April 2020, for  online  audit  of  PRI  accounts.  This  is  in  compliance  with  the  XV  Finance  Commission recommendations of ensuring availability of audited accounts online.

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