The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is responsible for the work of advocacy, monitoring and implementation of Constitution 73rd Amendment. The role of the MoPR involves strengthening the administrative infrastructure, basic services etc. by leveraging technology and capacity building of the functionaries of Rural Local Body (RLB). Ministry’s roadmap to realise the above objective is through three pillars:
· Provision of basic services through the Finance Commission Funding,
· Capacity building of RLBs through Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and
· Convergent & holistic planning through inclusive & participatory process through Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and advocacy work
Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) Grants
During the current Financial Year 2019-20, FFC Grant of Rs.48,497.57 crore (including release for previous years) has been released to 26 States for Gram Panchayats (GPs) as on 18.12.2019. The year-wise allocations and release of Finance Commission Grants for the Award period 2015-16 to 2019-20 (as on 16.12.2019) is as under:
(Rs. in crore)
Sl. No. |
Year |
Basic Grant |
Performance Grant |
||
Allocation |
Release |
Allocation |
Release |
||
1. |
2015-16 |
21624.46 |
21510.46 |
-- |
-- |
2. |
2016-17 |
29942.87 |
29718.76 |
3927.65 |
3499.45 |
3. |
2017-18 |
34596.26 |
33575.12 |
4444.71 |
1943.55 |
4. |
2018-19 |
40021.63 |
37897.41 |
5047.53 |
-- |
5. |
2019-20 |
54077.80 |
43736.08 |
6609.33 |
-- |
|
Total |
180263.02 |
166437.83 |
20029.22 |
5443.00 |
Ministry monitors the effective utilization of FFC Grants by the GPs through Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Around 5.5 Lakhs assets created by using FFC grants in GPs have been geo-tagged as on today to give thrust on digital monitoring system.
Around 1,10,102 numbers of Gram Panchayats are on-board in PRIASoft-PFMS and 68,014 GPs are already doing digital payments through PRIASoft -PFMS. 2,00,850 numbers of GPs are on-board in PRIASoft double entry cash-based accounting application meant for Panchayats.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
The restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) has been operationalized w.e.f. 2018-19 with the primary aim of strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with main thrust on convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening PRIs in 117 Aspirational districts.
During 2018-19, Ministry had approved the Annual Action Plans (AAPs) of 32 States/UTs and Rs. 598.25 crore was released to States/UTs and implementing agencies upto 31st March, 2019. During current year, Ministry has approved the Annual Action Plans (AAPs) of 33 States/UTs and released Rs.406.22 crore to States/UTs and implementing agencies till 18.12.2019. Some of the major activities approved during 2019-20 to States/UTs are:
People’s Plan Campaign (PPC)- Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas
Inspired by the visible and quite satisfactory performance of the Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas and other stakeholders involved in the PPC during 2nd October, 2018 to 31st December, 2018 and to provide sustainability to the GPDP formulation process into a participative and transparent exercise, the process of GPDP preparation for the financial year 2020-21 again started in a Campaign mode from 2nd October, 2019 as PPC-2019. The status of PPC as on December 16, 2019 is as under:
Incentivization of Panchayats:
The Ministry has been incentivizing the Panchayats/ States/ Union Territories (UTs) under the scheme of Incentivization of Panchayats, one of the central components of the restructured scheme of RGSA, in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services &public goods and to encourage a spirit of competition.
Awards, including financial incentives ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.50 Lakh, are given annually to best performing Panchayats/States/UTs under various categories namely, (i) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP) for Gram/ Block/ District Panchayats; (ii) Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP) for Gram Panchayats; (iii) Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award for Gram Panchayats; (iv) Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA) for Gram Panchayats and e-Panchayat Puraskar for States/UTs. During 2019 the following National Panchayat Awards were conferred:
Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayat:
Under the e-Panchayat MMP, a suite of Core Common Applications has been developed collectively called Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES) Applications. Following are some of the key activities undertaken under the e-Panchayat MMP during the year:
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APS/JP