Lok Sabha Question No. 255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Issues of  Local Body Representatives
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 255

ANSWERED ON- 04.02.2025

## ISSUES OF LOCAL BODYREPRESENTATIVES

## 255. SHRI MADDILAGURUMOORTHY:

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

(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the issues concerning local body representatives, particularly Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs), and Sarpanchs, losing their powers in Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any instances have been reported where development works are being initiated in local bodies without the necessary resolutions or without notifying the local representatives;

(c) the steps taken by the Ministry to ensure the proper functioning and authority of local body representatives in accordance with democratic principles and Panchayati Raj regulations; and

(d) whether any directives have been issued by the Union Government to the Andhra Pradesh Government to address this issue and restore the powers of local representatives?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (d) 'Panchayat', being 'Local Government', is a State subject and part of State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. Article 243G of the Constitution empowers the Legislature of a State to make provisions, by law, for the devolution of power and responsibilities upon Panchayat at appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified, with respect to the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice and implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to matters included in the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. The State legislatures are to consider the 29 subjects illustratively set out in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution of power and responsibilities upon Panchayats. The performance of the Panchayats depends on the extent of powers and resources devolved to them by the States concerned, which varies across States.

However, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj reviews performance of Panchayats, from time to time, through studies, review meetings, field visits, video conferencing, Information

Technology applications, Common Review Missions etc. This Ministry holds extensive exercise of capacity building of Elected Representatives of Panchayats, through the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. This Ministry focuses on developing the capacity of Elected Representatives of Panchayats to enable them to function effectively in Gram Panchayats and properly discharge their leadership roles. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj also provides e-GramSWARAJ portal for facilitating all the Panchayats to formulate and upload their plans for utilization of grants under the Central Finance Commission each year. These plans, duly approved by the Panchayats, are monitored at each stage of implementation through the system generated vouchers, geo-tagging and responsibilities assigned to Panchayat Pradhan and Panchayat Secretary.

The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh has informed that no such instance, where development works are being initiated in local bodies without the necessary resolutions or without notifying the local representatives, has been reported in the State. Further, no such instance has been reported in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

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