Panchayati Raj Institutions in India
are the backbone of our democracy. To
promote a decentralized, participative & holistic planning process for the
local elected bodies and make then more meaningful a number of initiatives have
been taken by
the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
The Backward Region Grant
Fund
This Scheme promotes decentralized, participative
& holistic planning process, as an essential condition for getting BRGF
grant. It bridges the critical gaps in development and builds capacity of PRIs & official functionaries. The evaluation study
done recently shows that BRGF is extremely useful in meeting the local needs
and PRIs and States have acquired good experience in
planning and implementing the Scheme. Out of the plan outlay of Rs.4670 Cr. for
2009-10 for BRGF, Rs. 3240 Cr has already been
released to States by 31st December 2009.
e-Governance Project
e-PRI is identified as one of
the Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) under NeGP. It proposes to provide a whole range of IT related
services such as Decentralized Database & Planning, PRI Budgeting &
Accounting, Implementation & monitoring of Central and State sector
schemes, Citizen-centric Services, Unique codes to Panchayats
and Individuals, Essential GIS based applications, On-line Self-learning medium
for elected representatives and official functionaries. e-PRI
has the potential to revolutionize PRIs as the symbol
of modernity & efficiency and induce
mass ICT culture.
e-PRI envisages providing computing facilities along with connectivity to all
the 2.36 lac Panchayats at
a tentative cost of Rs. 4500 cr. over 3 years. Panchayats being the basic unit for planning and
implementation of Cenral/States programmes
& schemes, e-PRI would, in a way, be the umbrella MMP. Government would,
therefore, give high priority to e-PRI under NeGP. Information and Service Needs Assessment,
Business Process Engineering and Detailed Budget Reports for 27 States has
already been done and the Project is ready for roll out.
50% Reservation for Women
The
President in her Address to the Parliament on 4.6.09 had mentioned the intent
to provide fifty percent reservation for women in Panchayats
as women suffer multiple deprivations of class, caste and gender and enhancing
reservation in Panchayats will lead to more women
entering the public sphere.
Accordingly,
on 27.08.2009, the Cabinet approved the proposal to amend Articles 243 D to
provide 50% reservation for women in seats and also offices of Chairpersons in
all 3 tiers of Panchayats. Minister of Panchayati
Raj introduced the Constitutional (One Hundred and
Tenth) Amendment Bill, 2009 in the Lok Sabha on 26.11.2009.
Presently,
out of approx 28.18 Lakhs elected representatives of Panchayats, 36.87% are women. With the proposed Constitutional Amendment,
the number of elected women representatives is expected to rise to more than 14
lakhs.
Devolution
of Functions, Finance and Functionaries to PRIs
Panchayats are the grassroot democratic institutions and need to be further
empowered through effective devolution of functions, finances and functionaries
(3Fs) following the principles of subsidiarity and
centrality of Panchayats. This would also ensure
convergence of plethora of schemes and pooling of resources through holistic
planning by Panchayats. Panchayat
Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme, which aims at incentivising States to devolve 3Fs to Panchayats
and Panchayats to be more transparent and
accountable, would be given higher allocation based on a devolution index.
‘Year of the
Gram Sabha’
50 years of
Panchayati Raj was
commemorated on 2nd Oct.09. Given the criticality of Gram Sabhas in
self-governance and transparent and accountable functioning of the Gram Panchayats.
2.10.2009 to 2.10.2010 is being observed as ‘Year of the Gram Sabha’. Apart from making all efforts to ensure effective
functioning of the Gram Sabhas, following action are
being taken; legal, policy and programme changes
required for empowering the Panchayats particularly
the Gram Sabhas; building systems & processes for
ensuring greater efficiency, transparency & accountability of the Panchayats, and
launching mass awareness of and specific activities by the Gram Sabhas & Panchayats.
Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009
The current
justice delivery system is perceived as expensive, time-consuming,
procedure-ridden, technical and difficult to comprehend, which prevents the
poor from approaching the legal system with their grievances. To mitigate such
hardships, the Ministry has proposed a Nyaya Panchayats Bill. The Nyaya Panchayats will ensure participatory and people-oriented
system of justice with greater scope for mediation, conciliation and
compromise. Being closer to the people geographically and psychologically, the Nyaya Panchayats would be the
ideal forum to save time, trouble and expenses of parties and witnesses. It
would also reduce the workload of judiciary.
Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan
It is a
scheme for the Elected Women Representatives (EWRs)
to build their confidence and capacity so that they get over the institutional,
societal and political constraints that prevent them from active participation
in rural local self government. 22 States have formed the Core Committee and
organized the State Level Sammelans. 9 State Support Centres have been established under the scheme. (Andhra
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim,
Kerala, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Island). 11 States have been conducted training
sensitization programme under the scheme. (Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Goa, Himachal Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Kerala, Assam, Andaman &
Nicobar Island and Sikkim)
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Divisional Level Sammelans have been organized in 11
States. (Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Manipur, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Island). State Level Association of EWRs/EYRs has been formed in the States of Goa and Sikkim.
Rural
Business Hubs (RBH) Scheme
The RBH
scheme has been started in 2007, to spread the benefits of India’s rapid
economic development to the rural areas through the medium of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). RBH is a participatory development model for the
rural areas of the country that is built on the platform of 4 P, i.e.
Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership. The RBH
initiative is aimed at moving from mere livelihood support to promoting rural
prosperity, increasing rural non-farm incomes and augmenting rural employment.
35 districts have been identified for focused RBH
intervention in consultation with State Governments. Services of reputed
organizations have been enlisted as Gateway Agencies for supporting Panchayats in identification of potential RBHs and their development. Financial assistance to 49
projects has been extended for establishment of RBH. Also,RBH is being evaluated for possible upscaling in the future.
RTS/VN
SS-33/SF-33/02.02.2010