Panchayat being State subject, providing computers for Panchayats is primarily the responsibility of States/ Union Territories (UTs). However, Ministry, under the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) supplemented the efforts of all States by providing computers for Panchayats as proposed by States/UTs in their Annual Action Plan and approved by Central Empowered Committee, on a limited scale. For attaining the vision of Digital India, Bharat Net project is being implemented by Department of Telecommunications in a phased manner to create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats by broadband in the country. The scope of Bharat Net on 30.06.2021 has been extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country.
Under Digital India Programme, Ministry is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) with the aim to transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), making them more transparent, accountable, and effective. The Ministry launched eGramSwaraj, a work-based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj Institutions under the e-Panchayat MMP on 24th April 2020. This application encompasses all aspects of Panchayat functioning viz. planning, budgeting, accounting, monitoring, asset management etc, on a single digital platform including online payments.
Under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project funds are being provided to National Informatics Center Services Inc. (NICSI) for central level support for maintenance of e-Panchayat applications.
So far, 2.53 lakh GPs have prepared and uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for 2022-23 on E-GramSwaraj. Under 14th Finance Commission, 1.44 lakh GPs and 91,607 GPs have carried out online transactions during 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. Similarly, 1.93 lakh GPs have carried online transactions under 15th Finance Commission during 2021-22. All States are making efforts to implement e-Panchayat MMP, based on their available resources and here is substantial improvement in adoption of digital applications by the States in PRIs functioning.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
****
APS/PK/1991