Lok Sabha Question No. 1584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Sustainable Development Goals in Panchayats
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 1584

ANSWERED ON 12/12/2023

## SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN PANCHAYATS

## †1584. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of action being taken for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Panchayats; and
- (b) the details of guidelines to be provided through the 'Meri Panchayat' mobile app?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) Ministry is implementing the Centrally Sponsored scheme of revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026, extends to all States and UTs of the country including institutions of rural local government in non-Part-IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist. The focus of Revamped scheme is on reimagining Panchayati Raj Institutions as vibrant centres of local self-governance and economic growth with special focus on Localization of  Sustainable  Development  Goals  (LSDGs)  at  grassroots  level  adopting  9  thematic  approach through concerted and collaborative efforts of Central Ministries and State line departments with 'whole of Government' approach at all levels. The 9 themes include poverty free, healthy, child friendly,  water  sufficient,  clean  &  green,  self-sufficient  infrastructure,  socially  secured,  good governance and women friendly villages. These themes are interlinked and inter-related to each other and concerned all SDGs. A Thematic approach of LSDGs has been taken due to these being easy to relate to the Panchayats and the community which help to provide vision for the Panchayats to achieve SDGs in rural areas for holistic development.

Ministry  has  taken  various  initiatives  including  inter-ministerial  consultations  with  the Nodal Ministries, regional workshops with States and consultative meeting with UN Agencies had been held to reinforce the collaborative endeavour for localizing SDGs through PRIs. Ministry is continuously  working  with  the  States  and  other  stakeholders  to  take  forward  the  LSDG  at grassroots level.

(b) Meri  Panchayat  App  is  a  Mobile  Governance  (m-Governance)  App,  which  has  been developed by NIC, Ministry of Panchayati Raj to make information, aggregated from different portals of this Ministry pertaining to functioning of Gram Panchayats, easily accessible to public. The  application  provides  information  in  respect  of  demography,  Elected  Representatives, Panchayat Secretary and officials, Gram Panchayat Development Plans, Funds received, income and  expenditure  of  Panchayat,  Sankalp  or  Resolution  by  panchayat  for  development,  Bank Accounts  and  Bank  statement  of  Panchayat,  etc.  Meri  Panchayat  Mobile  App  will  provide  a holistic view of the Panchayat and facilitate easy access to all information about the functioning of panchayats, which is expected to enhance transparency & accountability. At the same time, it can also be used by the Panchayat Elected Representatives and Functionaries for dispensing their work through their dedicated login IDs.

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