Lok Sabha Question No. 3735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFPANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3735

ANSWERED ON: 12.08.2025

## PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

3735. SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state;

- a. whether the Government has implemented any special programs or schemes to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Gujarat;
- b. if so, the details of funds released and utilized under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) in Gujarat during the last three years, State-wise;
- c. whether any training and capacity-building programs for elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries have been conducted in the State, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- d. the steps taken to improve digital governance and transparency in the functioning of Gram Panchayats in Gujarat?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) Panchayat is a State subject and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) supplements and complements the efforts of State Governments, including fund support under the schemes for strengthening and efficient functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on a continuous basis.

The MoPR is implementing the following schemes at present:

- (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with the primary objective of strengthening the PRI by the way of capacity building and training of the Elected Representatives (ERs) and the functionaries of the PRI, and providing infrastructural support like Gram Panchayat Bhawan and computers and peripherals;
- (ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP) , a central component of the RGSA scheme, to encourage a competitive spirit among PRI, under which awards, including financial

incentives, are given to the best-performing Panchayats in recognition of their good work in improving service delivery and public welfare; and

(iii) Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats (MMP-ePanchayat) , a central component of the RGSA scheme, under which various e-governance projects are funded to promote the digitalization of Panchayats, bringing efficiency, accountability and transparency to the functioning of PRI and contributing to their overall transformation.

These schemes are implemented for all Rural Local Bodies (RLB) or PRI in all the States/UTs in the country including Gujarat.

Besides, the PRI receive Central Finance Commission (CFC) Grants for various developmental works that helps in strengthening them in various ways.

(b) The State-wise status of funds released and utilised under the RGSA scheme that includes Gujarat is given at Annexure-I.

(c) Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme, various training programmes for the Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are conducted by respective State Governments, including the State Government of Gujarat, as well as the Central Government. These programmes are implemented through institutions such as the State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR), National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), institutes of national importance like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and other organizations like District Panchayat Resource Centres (DPRCs).

The objective of these trainings is to strengthen governance capabilities and leadership skills in areas such as planning, implementation, resource mobilization, and management. In addition, thematic workshops focusing on sectors like health, education, gender equality, environmental protection, social security, and good governance have been conducted for PRI members and functionaries. These initiative es aim to enhance their capacity to contribute meaningfully toward the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The State-wise cumulative number of participants trained under RGSA scheme from 2022-23 and till date, including those from Gujarat, is given at Annexure-II.

(d) Under the Digital India initiative, the MoPR is implementing the MMP-ePanchayat scheme for promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability at the grassroots level governance by developing and popularising various digital platforms and applications. The eGramSwaraj application has facilitated digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online payments at the Panchayat level. The integration of eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) enables real-time payments to vendors and service providers, ensuring seamless fund flow and reducing delays. The eGramSwaraj application has been integrated with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to bring transparency to Panchayat procurement. Further, applications like Meri Panchayat have endeavoured to bring transparency in Panchayat Governance by making public accessible to information on planning, activities, and progress of works in Panchayat. Similarly, Panchayat NIRNAY is an online application aims at bringing transparency and better management in conduct of Gram Sabhas by Panchayats. An application 'AuditOnline' has been developed for online audits of Panchayat accounts and their financial management. All these digital steps/initiatives are bringing in transparency in Gram Panchayats across the country including in Gram Panchayats in Gujarat.

***

## Annexure-I

## Statement Referred to in Reply to Part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3735 Answered on 12.08.2025 Regarding Panchayati Raj Institutions

## State-wise Status of Funds Released and Utilized under the RGSA Scheme during the last three years

| Sl. No   | State Name        | 2022-23       | 2022-23        | 2023-24       | 2023-24        | 2024-25       | 2024-25        |
|----------|-------------------|---------------|----------------|---------------|----------------|---------------|----------------|
| Sl. No   | State Name        | Funds Release | Funds Utilized | Funds Release | Funds Utilized | Funds Release | Funds Utilized |
| 1        | ANDHRA PRADESH    | 0.00          | 0.00           | 0.00          | 21.35          | 2.52          | 59.66          |
| 2        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 108.69        | 132.45         | 72.09         | 89.97          | 70.00         | 77.94          |
| 3        | ASSAM             | 55.29         | 95.15          | 77.70         | 91.41          | 60.00         | 72.60          |
| 4        | BIHAR             | 33.37         | 70.07          | 25.00         | 51.81          | 0.00          | 78.05          |
| 5        | CHHATTISGARH      | 0.00          | 29.52          | 17.57         | 22.25          | 16.50         | 34.13          |
| 6        | GOA               | 0.00          | 1.12           | 0.89          | 1.00           | 1.35          | 1.29           |
| 7        | GUJARAT           | 0.00          | 0.01           | 0.00          | 1.28           | 0.00          | 15.48          |
| 8        | HARYANA           | 0.00          | 3.06           | 0.00          | 8.84           | 5.00          | 8.24           |
| 9        | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 60.65         | 37.49          | 19.31         | 69.30          | 27.21         | 43.13          |
| 10       | JAMMU AND KASHMIR | 40.00         | 57.75          | 65.00         | 98.61          | 65.00         | 57.89          |
| 11       | JHARKHAND         | 0.00          | 18.44          | 31.00         | 25.95          | 0.00          | 26.56          |
| 12       | KARNATAKA         | 36.00         | 25.67          | 20.00         | 39.01          | 16.25         | 49.52          |
| 13       | KERALA            | 30.40         | 23.13          | 10.00         | 37.04          | 10.00         | 32.65          |
| 14       | MADHYA PRADESH    | 28.00         | 145.17         | 32.17         | 74.16          | 40.00         | 96.92          |
| 15       | MAHARASHTRA       | 37.84         | 129.03         | 116.12        | 194.26         | 80.00         | 134.81         |
| 16       | MANIPUR           | 8.63          | 3.31           | 9.56          | 8.34           | 0.00          | 3.91           |
| 17       | MEGHALAYA         | 0.00          | 6.41           | 6.00          | 6.26           | 8.00          | 7.60           |
| 18       | MIZORAM           | 14.27         | 25.48          | 10.00         | 15.64          | 12.00         | 22.69          |
| 19       | NAGALAND          | 0.00          | 0.00           | 10.00         | 5.46           | 10.00         | 18.28          |
| 20       | ODISHA            | 11.40         | 24.83          | 27.33         | 44.22          | 20.00         | 60.15          |
| 21       | PUNJAB            | 34.25         | 42.91          | 10.00         | 23.06          | 5.00          | 23.89          |
| 22       | RAJASTHAN         | 0.00          | 32.41          | 21.72         | 40.12          | 15.00         | 30.88          |
| 23       | SIKKIM            | 6.01          | 4.98           | 6.00          | 7.90           | 7.00          | 7.35           |
| 24       | TAMILNADU         | 25.42         | 8.53           | 0.00          | 25.98          | 45.00         | 63.79          |
| 25       | TELANGANA         | 0.00          | 3.19           | 20.00         | 20.47          | 0.00          | 9.05           |
| 26       | TRIPURA           | 9.80          | 3.76           | 7.43          | 10.96          | 10.00         | 20.29          |
| 27       | UTTAR PRADESH     | 85.05         | 96.33          | 84.13         | 158.95         | 38.77         | 180.84         |
| 28       | UTTARAKHAND       | 42.48         | 57.15          | 64.67         | 66.29          | 50.00         | 63.72          |
| 29       | WEST BENGAL       | 4.28          | 50.89          | 33.69         | 57.32          | 52.68         | 82.68          |

|    | Union Territories                    |      |      |      |      |      |      |
|----|--------------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| 30 | ANDAMANAND NICOBARISLAND             | 0    | 1.03 | 0.79 | 1.28 | 2.12 | 1.18 |
| 31 | DADRAAND NAGARHEVELI ANDDAMANAND DIU | 1.14 | 4.5  | 1    | 0.38 | 1    | 0    |
| 32 | LADAKH                               | 0    | 1.52 | 1    | 0.8  | 0    | 0.58 |

Note: Funds released are only Central share and fund utilised includes the State share, unspent balance of the previous year/s and interest accrued under SNA etc.

## Annexure-II

## Statement Referred to in Reply to Part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3735 Answered on 12.08.2025 Regarding Panchayati Raj Institutions

## State-wise Cumulative Number of Participants Trained under the RGSA scheme since 2022-23 till date

|   Sl. No | States                   | Number of Participants Trained   |
|----------|--------------------------|----------------------------------|
|        1 | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 9960                             |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh           | 1183748                          |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh        | 22,318                           |
|        4 | Assam                    | 729416                           |
|        5 | Bihar                    | 1056431                          |
|        6 | Chhattisgarh             | 375741                           |
|        7 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli   | 2842                             |
|        8 | Daman and Diu            |                                  |
|        9 | Goa                      | 9885                             |
|       10 | Gujarat                  | 93198                            |
|       11 | Haryana                  | 92774                            |
|       12 | Himachal Pradesh         | 225745                           |
|       13 | Jammu &Kashmir           | 717800                           |
|       14 | Jharkhand                | 198522                           |
|       15 | Karnataka                | 1009333                          |
|       16 | Kerala                   | 465297                           |
|       17 | Ladakh                   | 26                               |
|       18 | lakshadweep              | 0                                |
|       19 | Madhya Pradesh           | 615660                           |
|       20 | Maharashtra              | 2389542                          |
|       21 | Manipur                  | 6850                             |
|       22 | Meghalaya                | 164,557                          |
|       23 | Mizoram                  | 22300                            |
|       24 | Nagaland                 | 9992                             |
|       25 | Odisha                   | 557074                           |
|       26 | Puducherry               | 0                                |
|       27 | Punjab                   | 202117                           |
|       28 | Rajasthan                | 206998                           |
|       29 | Sikkim                   | 32,050                           |
|       30 | Tamil Nadu               | 295645                           |
|       31 | Telangana                | 18950                            |
|       32 | Tripura                  | 130189                           |
|       33 | Uttarakhand              | 214957                           |
|       34 | Uttar Pradesh            | 438094                           |
|       35 | West Bengal              | 720983                           |

***