**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2759 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 16, 2025, concerning the Panchayat Sahayak Yojana. The questions address potential increases in honorarium, maternity leave policies, and transparent appointment processes for Panchayat Assistants in Uttar Pradesh. The response clarifies that these matters fall under the purview of the State Government.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Government Authority:** Matters relating to Panchayats, including honorarium, maternity leave, and appointments, fall under the purview of the State Government.
* **Honorarium Increase:**
* There is no proposal under consideration by the Government of Uttar Pradesh to increase the honorarium of Panchayat Sahayaks.
* The honorarium is currently fixed at ₹6,000 per month.
* Panchayat Sahayaks also receive service-based incentives through Common Service Centers (CSCs).
* **Maternity Leave:**
* There is no prohibition on Gram Panchayats granting maternity leave.
* Gram Panchayats, as autonomous constitutional bodies, are empowered to provide such leave or other necessary relief.
* **Appointment Process:**
* A transparent, objective, merit-based selection procedure for appointing Panchayat Sahayaks is already in place in Uttar Pradesh.
* Only local residents of the Gram Panchayat concerned are eligible.
* Selection is based solely on the highest average marks obtained in Class 10 and Class 12.
**Impact Analysis**
**Panchayat Sahayaks in Uttar Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Existing honorarium of ₹6,000 per month remains unchanged. Entitlement to service-based incentives and potential for maternity leave contingent on the Gram Panchayat's discretion. Appointment process based on academic merit remains in place.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required based on this response. Status quo is maintained regarding honorarium and appointment process. They may need to consult with their respective Gram Panchayats regarding maternity leave.
**Government of Uttar Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Responsible for decisions related to honorarium, maternity leave, and appointment processes for Panchayat Sahayaks.
* **Action Required:** No changes in policy required based on this response. Continue with the existing selection process.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayat Sahayak Yojana: Scheme focused on engaging Panchayat Assistants on a contractual basis, specifically referenced in Uttar Pradesh.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The ministry responsible for matters related to Panchayats at the central level, answering questions related to the Panchayat Sahayak Yojana.
Uttar Pradesh: The state where the Panchayat Sahayak Yojana is being implemented and is the focus of the parliamentary question.
Constitution of India: Referenced as the overarching framework within which Panchayats operate, particularly with respect to the State List.
Panchayati Raj Acts: State-specific acts governing the establishment and operation of Panchayats, which may vary from state to state.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2759
ANSWEREDON 16.12.2025
PANCHAYATSAHAYAKYOJANA
†2759.SHRIJITENDRAKUMAR DOHARE:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is considering increasing the honorarium of Panchayat
Assistants working on contract from the present Rs. 6,000 per month under the Panchayat
SahayakYojana beingimplementedinUttar Pradesh;
(b) whether any policy is being formulated to grant maternity leave to women Panchayat
Sahayakworking underthisscheme;
(c) whether the Government is considering making appointment to the post of Panchayat
Assistants through its own prescribed, transparent process instead of the present Gram
Pradhansystem; and
(d) if not,the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH)
(a) to (b)“Panchayat”, being “Local Government”,is a State subject and part of State List of
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the
respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution. Accordingly, all matters relating to Panchayats, including
increasing the honorarium of Panchayat Assistants, grant of maternity leave to women
Panchayat Sahayak and appointments to the post of Panchayat Assistants, come within the
purviewof the StateGovernment concerned.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that there is no proposal under consideration
to increase the honorarium of Panchayat Sahayaks, who are currently engaged on a
contractual basis with a fixed monthly honorarium of ₹6,000 under the Panchayat Sahayak
Yojana in Uttar Pradesh. In addition to the honorarium, Panchayat Sahayaks also receive
service-based incentives for various activities delivered through Common Service Centres
(CSCs). Further, there is no prohibition on Gram Panchayats on granting maternity leave.
Since a Gram Panchayat is an autonomous constitutional body, it is empowered to provide
such leave or othernecessary relief towomen PanchayatSahayaks,asdeemedappropriate.
(c) The Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that there a transparent, objective, merit-
1based selection procedure for the appointment of Panchayat Sahayaks is already in place.
Under the existing procedure, only a local resident of the Gram Panchayat concerned is
eligible, and selection is made solely on the basis of the highest average marks obtained in
Class 10andClass 12, ensuring fairness andtransparency inthe process.
(d) Does not arise inviewof part (c).
***
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