Lok Sabha Question No. 438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Fourteenth Finance Commission
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Shrirang Appa Barne, Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 438

ANSWERED ON 20.07.2021

## FOURTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION

## 438. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the grants promised by the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) are provided to the Gram Panchayats, if so, the amount released and utilised for the State of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) whether cheque drawing-powers of Sarpanch can be withdrawn and handed over to Village Revenue Officer, if so, the reasons thereof;
- (c) the extent of computerisation completed under projects of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana and the Fourteenth Finance Commission; and
- (d) the number of Common Service Centres set up towards provision of online services in villages  and  Gram  Panchayats,  in  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  more  specifically  the Srikakumar district?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)     Under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) award for the period of 2015-2020, grants to the tune of Rs. 2,00,292.20 crore were allocated to Gram Panchayats (GPs) constituted under Part IX of the Constitution in 26 States including Andhra Pradesh. From this, a total amount of Rs. 1,83,248.54 crore (91.49%) was released to the States. The details of allocation and release of FFC Grants to the State of Andhra Pradesh is as below:

(Rs. in crore)

| 2015-16     | 2015-16   | 2016-17     | 2016-17   | 2017-18     | 2017-18   | 2018-19     | 2018-19   | 2019-20     | 2019-20   |
|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|
| Allocati on | Relea se  | Allocati on | Relea se  | Allocati on | Relea se  | Allocati on | Relea se  | Allocati on | Relea se  |
| 934.34      | 928.4 1   | 1463.4 5    | 1454. 05  | 1686.8 5    | 1675. 88  | 1947.3 2    | 1729. 23  | 2622.1 3    | 2336. 56  |

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that the entire amount released to the State under FFC has been utilized.

- (b) Panchayat, being 'Local Government', is a State subject and part of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The financial powers of Sarpanches including the cheque drawing powers are governed by the Panchayati Raj Acts and Rules including the financial rules of the respective State Governments. (c)    201679 GPs/ Rural Local Bodies across the country are having computer which include 4146 GPs for which computers have been provided under the scheme of RGSA. Under FFC purchase of computers and accessories as well as cost of AMC in GPs which do not have any computer have been permitted. (d)   As per information furnished by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, a total of 15004 Common Service Centres (CSCs) have been set up in the State. In Srikakulam District the

number of CSCs is 878.

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