Executive Summary:
This document presents the Minister of Panchayati Raj's response to questions regarding Panchayat bodies in West Bengal, specifically concerning fund allocation, project details, training programs, and the SVAMITVA scheme. It covers the period from 2019 onwards, with data up to August 12, 2025, for training programs. West Bengal is currently ineligible for grants for FY 2025-26 under the 15th Finance Commission.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Fund Allocation (Central Finance Commission):**
* Under the 14th Finance Commission (FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20), West Bengal was allocated Rs. 14191.78 Crores.
* Under the 15th Finance Commission (FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26), West Bengal has been allocated Rs 21,611.00 Crores, with Rs 17,938.22 Crores released up to FY 2024-25.
* West Bengal is currently ineligible to receive grants for FY 2025-26 under the 15th Finance Commission due to non-compliance with the mandatory eligibility condition of constitution of the State Finance Commission (SFC).
* Year-wise fund allocation details are provided for FY 2019-20 to FY 2025-26.
* District-wise fund allocation details are not maintained by the Central Government. Year-wise expenditure details are available on the eGramSwaraj Portal.
* **Panchayat Projects:**
* The Central Government does not maintain details of projects initiated, under construction, or completed under Panchayats, district-wise.
* **Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Scheme Training:**
* Training data is provided for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Uttar Dinajpur districts from FY 2022-23 to August 12, 2025.
* **SVAMITVA Scheme:**
* West Bengal has not signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementing the SVAMITVA Scheme.
Impact Analysis:
* **West Bengal State Government:**
* Impact: Ineligible for FY 2025-26 grants under the 15th Finance Commission due to non-compliance with SFC requirements.
* Action Required: Constitution of State Finance Commission (SFC) regarding submission of the SFC report and laying of Action Taken Report (ATR) on its recommendation in the State Legislative Assembly to regain eligibility for grants.
* **Panchayats in West Bengal:**
* Impact: Subject to fund allocation by the State Government based on SFC recommendations. Project details are not centrally tracked.
* Action Required: Monitor fund expenditure details on the eGramSwaraj Portal.
* **Citizens of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Uttar Dinajpur districts:**
* Impact: Benefit from training programs under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Scheme. Not currently benefiting from the SVAMITVA scheme.
* Action Required: Participate in available training programs.
* **Rural Citizens in States with SVAMITVA Implementation:**
* Impact: Granted ownership rights through property cards, enabling access to loans and reduction in property disputes.
* Action Required: Utilize property cards for availing loans and resolving property disputes.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, a branch of the Indian government.
West Bengal: A state in eastern India, focus of the parliamentary question.
14th Finance Commission: The Fourteenth Finance Commission of India, which allocated funds to states including West Bengal from FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20.
15th Finance Commission: The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, which allocated funds to states including West Bengal from FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26.
Darjeeling: A district in West Bengal, specifically mentioned in the context of projects and training.
Kalimpong: A district in West Bengal, specifically mentioned in the context of projects and training.
Uttar Dinajpur: A district in West Bengal, specifically mentioned in the context of training programs.
SVAMITVA Scheme: Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas scheme, a program for mapping and granting property rights in rural areas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 378
ANSWEREDON 19.08.2025
PANCHAYATBODIES IN WESTBENGAL
*378 SHRIRAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) the details of funds allocated to the Panchayat bodies since 2019 under the 14th and the
15thFinanceCommissions, district-wise inWest Bengal;
(b) the details of the projects initiated/under construction/completed under Panchayats in the
districts of DarjeelingandKalimpong since 2019;
(c) the details of the people trained under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Scheme in Darjeeling,
Kalimpong,andNorth Dinajpur districts since 2019; and
(d) the status of implementation of Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised
Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme in West Bengal, particularly in the
districts of DarjeelingandKalimpong?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a) to (d):AstatementislaidontheTableoftheHouse.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE
LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 378 FOR AN ANSWER ON 19.08.2025
REGARDING ‘PANCHAYATBODIES IN WESTBENGAL’
(a) Under the 14th Finance Commission (FY 2015-16 to FY2019-20), Rs. 14191.78 Crores
was allocated toWest Bengal.Under the 15thFinanceCommission, Rs 21,611.00 Crores have
been allocated to West Bengal for the FY 2020-21 to 2025-26. Out of this amount, Rs
17,938.22crore hasbeenreleasedtoWest Bengal uptoFY2024-25. West Bengal ispresently
not eligible to receive grants for the FY 2025-26 under the 15th Finance Commission, as the
State is not complying with the mandatory eligibility condition of constitution of State
Finance Commission(SFC) regarding submission of the SFC report and laying of Action
Taken Report (ATR)onitsrecommendationinthe State Legislative Assembly.
The details of funds allocated to the Panchayat/Rural Local Bodies since 2019 under
the 14thandthe 15thFinance Commissions inthe Stateof West Bengal are asunder:-
Year Amount allocated Central Finance Commission
(Rs. incrore)
2019-20 4300.01 14th FinanceCommission
2020-21 4412.00 15th FinanceCommission
(interimperiod)
2021-22 3261.00 15th FinanceCommission
2022-23 3378.00
2023-24 3415.00
2024-25 3617.00
2025-26 3528.00
Total 25911.01
Details of district-wise fund allocation under the Central Finance Commission are not
maintained by the Central Government, as the subsequent allocation of 15th Finance
Commission grants among the panchayats is carried out by the State Governments based on
the acceptedrecommendations of the latest StateFinance Commission (SFC).However,year-
wise expenditure details of panchayats under the 15thCentral Finance Commissionare
availableat the e-GramSwarajPortal(https://egramswaraj.gov.in).
(b) The details of projects initiated/under construction/completed under Panchayats, district-
wise, includingDarjeelingand Kalimpong,are not maintainedby the Central Government.
(c) The details of the participants trained in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Uttar
Dinajpur of West Bengal since 2022-23,as reported in Training Management Portal (TMP),
are asunder:-
Institute 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (till
-12Aug
2025)
District Panchayat Training & 1553 2896 4271 1805
Resource Centre(Localbody-
Darjeeling)
2District Panchayat Training & 0 3187 1999 620
Resource Centre(Localbody-
Kalimpong)
District Panchayat Training & 3638 8574 5614 1996
Resource Centre(District Panchayat
- Uttar Dinajpur)
(d) The State of West Bengal has not signed aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) for
implementing the SVAMITVA Scheme.It is worth mentioning that in the States and Union
Territories where SVAMITVAhas been implemented, nearly 2.63 crore Property Cards have
beenissued in1.73lakhvillages, grantingownershiprightstoruralcitizens. Thishasenabled
about 10,000 beneficiaries to avail loans amounting to Rs. 1307 crores using Property Cards
for mortgage. Also, property disputes have reduced as a consequence of the issue of property
Cards.
***
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