Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-28
Subject: Scheme for PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 176

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2016

## Scheme for PRIs

- *176. SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Prime Minister has urged the Gram Panchayats to play an active role in developmental  activities  and  make  use  of  Union  Government's  schemes  for  strengthening democracy at the grass root level and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  the  schemes  under    implementation  for  strengthening/  empowering panchayats across the country during the last two years; and
- (c) whether there is any monitoring mechanism to oversee the functioning of panchayats as per the guidelines of the Union Government and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c)    A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  176  FOR  28.07.2016  REGARDING  SCHEME FOR PRIs

(a) Yes, Madam. The Hon'ble Prime Minister in his speech on the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the 'Gramoday Se Bharat Uday' Abhiyan on April 24, 2016 had exhorted Gram Panchayats  to  play  an  active  role  in  implementation  of  Central  Government  programmes relating to Soil Health Cards, Swachh Bharat for Open Defecation Free Panchayats, Mid-Day Meal scheme, Indradhanush Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Drip Irrigation, Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme,  Rural  Electrification, Digital India, etc.

(b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj implemented Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme till 2014-15 which was aimed at strengthening the Panchayats in participatory planning in the backward regions to address the critical developmental gaps, and the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashakatikaran  Abhiyan  in  2014-15  and  2015-16  for  strengthening  different  aspects  of Panchayati Raj across the country. In addition to the above, the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Adarsh  Gram  Yojana  envisage  empowerment  of  Panchayats  for effective coordination, monitoring and supervision of convergent implementation of various developmental interventions.

(c)        The  Ministry  has  constituted  a  coordination  committee  for  providing  guidance  and support to State Governments and Local Bodies on implementation of recommendations and utilisation  of  funds  under  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission    award.  The  States  where  the constitutional provisions of the Panchayats apply have also set up empowered committees at State, District and Block level for monitoring and facilitation of convergent planning by the Gram Panchayats under their respective Gram Panchayat Development Plan guidelines. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj also regularly reviews the status of devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayats through yearly assessment by an Independent Agency.

*****