Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) addresses a query regarding the implementation of programs to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Gujarat. The response details the schemes implemented by the MoPR, including the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and Mission Mode Project on ePanchayats (MMPePanchayat), which support PRIs nationwide, including in Gujarat. The answer includes information on funds released and utilized under RGSA and training programs conducted, alongside steps to improve digital governance and transparency in Gram Panchayats.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Government's Role:** Panchayati Raj is a State subject. The MoPR supplements state efforts through financial and programmatic support to strengthen PRIs.
* **Key Schemes Implemented by MoPR:**
* **Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA):** Focuses on capacity building and training for elected representatives and functionaries, and provides infrastructural support to PRIs.
* **Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP):** Encourages competition among PRIs through awards and financial incentives for good performance in service delivery and public welfare.
* **Mission Mode Project on ePanchayats (MMPePanchayat):** Funds e-governance projects to promote digitalization, efficiency, accountability, and transparency in PRI functioning.
* **Central Finance Commission (CFC) Grants:** PRIs receive grants for developmental works.
* **Training Programs:** Conducted under RGSA by state governments and central institutions like SIRDPR, NIRDPR, and IIMs, focusing on governance capabilities, leadership skills, planning, implementation, and resource mobilization. Thematic workshops on health, education, gender equality, environmental protection, social security, and good governance are also conducted.
* **Digital India Initiative:** The MMPePanchayat scheme promotes transparency and accountability through digital platforms like eGramSwaraj (for digital planning, accounting, and online payments), Meri Panchayat (providing public access to information), Panchayat NIRNAY (for transparent Gram Sabha management), and AuditOnline (for online audits of Panchayat accounts).
Impact Analysis:
* **Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs):**
* *Impact:* Strengthened through capacity building, infrastructure support, financial incentives, and digitalization, leading to improved governance, service delivery, and transparency.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, implement digital solutions like eGramSwaraj, and strive for excellence to be eligible for incentives.
* **Elected Representatives (ERs) and Panchayat Functionaries:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced skills and knowledge through training programs, enabling them to contribute more effectively to local governance and sustainable development.
* *Action Required:* Attend training programs and workshops to improve governance and leadership skills.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Increased transparency and access to information regarding Panchayat activities, leading to better accountability and improved public services.
* *Action Required:* Utilize digital platforms like Meri Panchayat to access information and engage with local governance processes.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Supported in their efforts to strengthen PRIs through centrally sponsored schemes and initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Implement RGSA and MMPePanchayat schemes effectively, conduct training programs, and promote the use of digital platforms in PRIs.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government institutions at the village or rural level in India, also referred to as PRIs.
Gujarat: State in India where the implementation of Panchayati Raj schemes and programs is being assessed.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (RGSA) aimed at strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through capacity building, training, and infrastructure support.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The Indian government ministry (MoPR) responsible for supplementing and complementing the efforts of state governments in strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Digital India: A Government of India initiative under which the MMPePanchayat scheme is implemented for promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability at the grassroots level governance.
eGramSwaraj: Application that has facilitated digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online payments at the Panchayat level.
Public Financial Management System: A system (PFMS) integrated with eGramSwaraj to enable real-time payments to vendors and service providers.
State Institutes of Rural Development Panchayati Raj: Institutions (SIRDPR) that conduct training programmes for the Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFPANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3735
ANSWEREDON: 12.08.2025
PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS
3735.SMT.GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state;
a. whether the Government hasimplemented anyspecial programsor schemesto
strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) inGujarat;
b. if so, the detailsof funds releasedand utilizedunderthe Rashtriya Gram Swaraj
Abhiyan (RGSA) inGujarat during the last three years, State-wise;
c. whether anytrainingandcapacity-building programsfor electedrepresentatives and
Panchayatfunctionaries have beenconductedinthe State,if so,the detailsthereof,
State-wise;and
d. the steps takentoimprove digital governance andtransparency inthe functioning of
Gram PanchayatsinGujarat?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) Panchayat is a State subject and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) supplements and
complements the efforts of State Governments, including fund support under the schemes for
strengthening and efficient functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on a
continuousbasis.
The MoPR isimplementing the following schemesat present:
(i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
with the primary objective of strengthening the PRI by the way of capacity building
and training of the Elected Representatives (ERs) and the functionaries of the PRI,
and providing infrastructural support like Gram Panchayat Bhawan and computers
andperipherals;
(ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a central component of the RGSAscheme,
toencourage a competitive spirit among PRI,underwhich awards, including financial
1incentives, are given to the best-performing Panchayats in recognition of their good
work inimprovingservice delivery andpublic welfare; and
(iii) Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats (MMP-ePanchayat), a central
component of the RGSA scheme, under which various e-governance projects are
funded topromote the digitalization of Panchayats,bringing efficiency,accountability
and transparency to the functioning of PRI and contributing to their overall
transformation.
These schemes are implemented for all Rural Local Bodies (RLB) or PRI in all the
States/UTs inthe countryincludingGujarat.
Besides, the PRI receive Central Finance Commission (CFC) Grants for various
developmentalworks thathelps instrengthening them invariousways.
(b) The State-wise status of funds released andutilised under the RGSAscheme that includes
Gujarat isgivenat Annexure-I.
(c) Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme, various training
programmes for the Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are
conducted by respective State Governments, including the State Government of Gujarat, as
well as the Central Government. These programmes are implemented through institutions
such as the State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR), National
Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), institutes of national
importance like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and other organizations like
District Panchayat Resource Centres(DPRCs).
The objective of these trainings is to strengthen governance capabilities and leadership skills
in areas such as planning, implementation, resource mobilization, and management. In
addition, thematic workshops focusing on sectors like health, education, gender equality,
environmental protection, social security, and good governance have been conducted for PRI
members and functionaries. These initiative es aim to enhance their capacity to contribute
meaningfullytoward the achievement of sustainable developmentgoals.
The State-wise cumulativenumber of participants trained underRGSAscheme from 2022-23
andtill date,including those from Gujarat,isgivenat Annexure-II.
2(d) Under the Digital India initiative, the MoPR is implementing the MMP-ePanchayat
scheme for promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability at the grassroots level
governance by developing and popularising various digital platforms and applications. The
eGramSwaraj application has facilitated digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online
payments at the Panchayat level. The integration of eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial
Management System (PFMS) enables real-time payments to vendors and service providers,
ensuring seamless fund flow and reducing delays. The eGramSwaraj application has been
integrated with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to bring transparency to Panchayat
procurement. Further, applications like Meri Panchayat have endeavoured to bring
transparencyinPanchayatGovernancebymakingpublicaccessibletoinformationonplanning,
activities, and progress of works in Panchayat. Similarly, Panchayat NIRNAY is an online
application aims at bringing transparency and better management inconduct of Gram Sabhas
by Panchayats. An application ‘AuditOnline’ has been developed for online audits of
Panchayat accounts and their financial management. All these digital steps/initiatives are
bringingintransparencyinGramPanchayatsacrossthecountryincludinginGramPanchayats
inGujarat.
***
3Annexure-I
Statement Referred to in Reply to Part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No.3735 Answeredon 12.08.2025 RegardingPanchayatiRaj Institutions
State-wise Statusof Funds Released andUtilizedundertheRGSASchemeduring the
last three years
Sl. StateName 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
No Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
Release Utilized Release Utilized Release Utilized
1 ANDHRA 0.00 0.00 0.00 21.35 2.52 59.66
PRADESH
2 ARUNACHAL 108.69 132.45 72.09 89.97 70.00 77.94
PRADESH
3 ASSAM 55.29 95.15 77.70 91.41 60.00 72.60
4 BIHAR 33.37 70.07 25.00 51.81 0.00 78.05
5 CHHATTISGARH 0.00 29.52 17.57 22.25 16.50 34.13
6 GOA 0.00 1.12 0.89 1.00 1.35 1.29
7 GUJARAT 0.00 0.01 0.00 1.28 0.00 15.48
8 HARYANA 0.00 3.06 0.00 8.84 5.00 8.24
9 HIMACHAL 60.65 37.49 19.31 69.30 27.21 43.13
PRADESH
10 JAMMU AND 40.00 57.75 65.00 98.61 65.00 57.89
KASHMIR
11 JHARKHAND 0.00 18.44 31.00 25.95 0.00 26.56
12 KARNATAKA 36.00 25.67 20.00 39.01 16.25 49.52
13 KERALA 30.40 23.13 10.00 37.04 10.00 32.65
14 MADHYA 28.00 145.17 32.17 74.16 40.00 96.92
PRADESH
15 MAHARASHTRA 37.84 129.03 116.12 194.26 80.00 134.81
16 MANIPUR 8.63 3.31 9.56 8.34 0.00 3.91
17 MEGHALAYA 0.00 6.41 6.00 6.26 8.00 7.60
18 MIZORAM 14.27 25.48 10.00 15.64 12.00 22.69
19 NAGALAND 0.00 0.00 10.00 5.46 10.00 18.28
20 ODISHA 11.40 24.83 27.33 44.22 20.00 60.15
21 PUNJAB 34.25 42.91 10.00 23.06 5.00 23.89
22 RAJASTHAN 0.00 32.41 21.72 40.12 15.00 30.88
23 SIKKIM 6.01 4.98 6.00 7.90 7.00 7.35
24 TAMILNADU 25.42 8.53 0.00 25.98 45.00 63.79
25 TELANGANA 0.00 3.19 20.00 20.47 0.00 9.05
26 TRIPURA 9.80 3.76 7.43 10.96 10.00 20.29
27 UTTAR PRADESH 85.05 96.33 84.13 158.95 38.77 180.84
28 UTTARAKHAND 42.48 57.15 64.67 66.29 50.00 63.72
29 WESTBENGAL 4.28 50.89 33.69 57.32 52.68 82.68
4UnionTerritories
30 ANDAMANAND 0.00 1.03 0.79 1.28 2.12 1.18
NICOBARISLAND
31 DADRAAND 1.14 4.50 1.00 0.38 1.00 0.00
NAGARHEVELI
ANDDAMANAND
DIU
32 LADAKH 0.00 1.52 1.00 0.80 0.00 0.58
Note: Fundsreleased are onlyCentral share andfund utilised includesthe State share,
unspent balance of the previousyear/sandinterest accruedunderSNAetc.
5Annexure-II
StatementReferred to inReplyto Part(c)of the Lok SabhaUnstarredQuestion
No.3735 Answeredon12.08.2025Regarding PanchayatiRaj Institutions
State-wise CumulativeNumberof ParticipantsTrained underthe RGSAscheme since
2022-23 till date
Sl.No States Numberof ParticipantsTrained
1 Andaman& Nicobar 9960
Islands
2 Andhra Pradesh 1183748
3 Arunachal Pradesh 22,318
4 Assam 729416
5 Bihar 1056431
6 Chhattisgarh 375741
7 Dadra andNagar Haveli 2842
8 DamanandDiu
9 Goa 9885
10 Gujarat 93198
11 Haryana 92774
12 HimachalPradesh 225745
13 Jammu & Kashmir 717800
14 Jharkhand 198522
15 Karnataka 1009333
16 Kerala 465297
17 Ladakh 26
18 lakshadweep 0
19 Madhya Pradesh 615660
20 Maharashtra 2389542
21 Manipur 6850
22 Meghalaya 164,557
23 Mizoram 22300
24 Nagaland 9992
25 Odisha 557074
26 Puducherry 0
27 Punjab 202117
28 Rajasthan 206998
29 Sikkim 32,050
30 Tamil Nadu 295645
31 Telangana 18950
32 Tripura 130189
33 Uttarakhand 214957
34 Uttar Pradesh 438094
35 West Bengal 720983
***
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