Lok Sabha Question No. 2745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Women Participation in PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2745

ANSWERED ON-19.12.2023

## WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN PRIS

## 2745. DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the specific measures that the Government has implemented to increase the number of women  actively  participating  in  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  (PRIs)  beyond  the mandated reservation of seats;
- (b) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  addressing  the  challenges  of  women's tokenistic representation in PRIs;
- (c) whether the Government has established a comprehensive framework for evaluating the performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), encompassing various aspects of their functioning; and
- (d) if so, the specific parameters and criteria used to assess the effectiveness and success of PRIs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) and (b) Panchayat, being 'Local Government', is a State Subject and part of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.  Accordingly, Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. The measures to increase the number of  women  actively  participating  in  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  (PRIs)  or  to  address  the challenges of women's tokenistic representation in PRIs, comes within the purview of State Governments.  Article  243D  of  the  Constitution  of  India  provides  not  less  than  one-third reservation for women in PRIs. However, 21 States and 2 Union Territories have gone even further and have made provisions, in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules, for 50% reservation for women in PRIs.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been encouraging increased involvement of women in the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats. The Ministry has been engaging with the elected women representatives (EWRs) through a series of workshops, conferences, committees and expert groups on the issues  of  women  empowerment  and  women  leadership.  Based  on  the  experiences  of  best practices  gained  from  the  interaction  during  these  workshops  and  interaction  as  well  as recommendations  given  by  various  committees  and  expert  groups,  the  Ministry  has  been issuing advisories to States, from time to time, and also focusing on developing the capacity of EWRs of Panchayats to enable them to function effectively in Gram Panchayats and properly discharging their leadership roles. This Ministry has also issued advisories to States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings. Further, advisories have been issued to States for enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.

(c) and (d) The performance of the Panchayats depends on the extent of powers and resources devolved to them by the States. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has intensively engaged States for devolution of powers to the Panchayats. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan  (RGSA), financial support have been provided to the States/ Union Territories  for  various  activities  relating  to  strengthening  of  Panchayats  including  capacity building  of  PRIs.  Similarly,  by  successive  Finance  Commissions,  more  funds  have  been provided to the States for distribution among PRIs as under:-

1. Tenth Finance Commission (1995-2000): Rs.4380.93 crore
2. Eleventh Finance Commission (2000-2005): Rs.8000.00 crore
3. Twelfth Finance Commission (2005-2010): Rs. 20,000.00 crore
4. Thirteenth Finance Commission (2010-15): Rs.65160.71crore
5. Fourteenth Finance Commission (2015-2020): Rs.2,00,292.20 crore
6. Fifteenth Finance Commission (2020-2026): Rs.2,97,555.00 crore

For the proper functioning of the PRIs, sufficient manpower has to be provided by the States and Union Territories as the matter comes within their purview. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been advising States/ Union Territories in this regard from time to time.

To  strengthen  functioning  of  PRIs  across  the  country,  this  Ministry  has  launched eGramSwaraj (https://egramswaraj.gov.in), a user friendly web-based portal, which aims to bring  in  better  transparency  in  the  decentralised  planning,  progress  reporting,  financial management, work-based accounting and details of assets created. Further, for ensuring timely audit of Panchayat accounts i.e. receipts and expenditures of Gram Panchayats, this Ministry has rolled out an online application - AuditOnline (https://auditonline.gov.in). This application not only facilitates the auditing of Panchayat accounts but also provides for maintaining of audit  records.  This  application  streamlines  the  process  for  audit  inquiries,  draft  local  audit reports, draft audit paras etc. and thus ensures proper maintenance of accounts by Panchayats to improve transparency and accountability.

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