Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Panchayati Raj Instituions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 275

ANSWERED ON- 30/11/2021

## PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## 275. SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether any mechanism has been developed within the Panchayati Raj Institutions to prepare district plans and to monitor the works executed by Gram Panchayats;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether some Panchayats in the country have expressed their inability to utilize funds earmarked for them due to non-availability of district plans;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has issued any instructions to the Panchayats in this regard; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) The  devolution  of  funds  to  all  the  three  tiers  of  Panchayats  including  District Panchayats under the XV Finance Commission (XVFC) has necessitated a need to prepare District Panchayat Development plans which is a mandatory condition under XVFC Grants. In this context, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has developed a Framework for Preparation of Block Panchayat Development Plan (BPDP) and District Panchayat Development Plans (DPDP) on 28.10.2020 to Support States in preparation of the Block and District Development Plans for FY  2020-21  onwards  and  shared  with  states.  Further,  handholding  support  and  capacity building & training has been provided through National Institute for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) to stakeholders in cascade mode in preparation of Developments

Plans at the Block and District level. Training has been imparted to 327 State Level Master Trainers  from  34  States/  UTs  for  implementation  of  BPDP  &  DPDP  in  coordination  with NIRD&PR. For preparation and monitoring of BPDP & DPDP, 27 States/UTs have set up their District Level and 15 States have set their Block Level Control Room and a total of 540 District level Control Rooms have been set up so far. To provide instant guidance to Planning Teams operating at District  Level, all the States/ UTs have been advised to set-up a District level Control Room cum Project Management Unit (PMU) that serves as a mechanism for proper preparation and implementation of DPDPs. Panchayat being State subject, monitoring of the works being executed by Gram Panchayats is primarily responsibility of State Governments.

To  facilitate  States  to  monitor  the  progress  of  activities  being  undertaken  at  Gram Panchayat level, the Ministry has launched e-Gram SWARAJ (https://egramswaraj.gov.in/), a unified tool for effective monitoring and evaluation of works taken up in the Panchayats on 24th  April,  2020.  The  application  improves  reporting  and  tracking  of  Panchayat  activities, providing  a  single  interface  for  capturing  Panchayat  information.  The  (e-Gram  SWARAJ) application  strengthens  and  decentralizes  planning  process  so  that  the  development  funds consumed by the Plans result in effective outcomes. The application focuses on Work Based Accounting, tracking the expenditure incurred for each of the activities proposed under the Panchayat Development Plan.

- (c) No Sir.
- (d) Does not arise in view of above,
- (e) Yes Sir.

(f) The  States  have  been  advised  to  issue  suitable  instructions  to  District  Panchayats/ Intermediate Panchayats/ equivalent Traditional Bodies to prepare Plans and upload them on eGramSwaraj portal after due approvals so that the expenditure from the XV FC funds are incurred by them as per those plans only.

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