**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj addresses questions regarding infrastructural facilities and computerization of Panchayats. While infrastructure development is primarily the responsibility of States/UTs, the Ministry supplements these efforts through the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). The Ministry also supports the computerization of Panchayats, including online service provisions, with financial allocations and digital platforms like eGramSwaraj.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* Primary responsibility lies with States/UTs.
* The Ministry supplements efforts via the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), focusing on North Eastern States.
* Assistance provided for Panchayat Bhawans, co-location of Common Service Centers (CSCs), and computers/peripherals.
* States can utilize funds from the 15th Finance Commission, State Finance Commission (SFC), Own Source Revenue (OSR), and other resources.
* Convergence of funds with other Central and State Government infrastructure schemes is encouraged.
* **Computerization and Online Services:**
* The Ministry supports States/UTs in computerizing Panchayats to provide online services.
* ₹520.66 crore allocated to States/UTs under the e-Enablement component of RGSA over the last three years and the current year.
* eGramSwaraj is an online platform for annual development plan preparation, promoting transparency and accountability.
* Meri Panchayat application enhances transparency by providing public access to information on planning, activities, and progress.
* An online audit platform audits the expenditure of funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission.
* Collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications for the Digital India BharatNet project aims to achieve universal broadband connectivity for all Gram Panchayats.
**Impact Analysis**
* **States/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for primary infrastructure development and computerization of Panchayats. Receive supplementary support and financial allocations from the Ministry.
* *Action Required:* Utilize funds from various sources, converge with other schemes, and implement digital platforms for enhanced governance.
* **Gram Panchayats:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from improved infrastructure, computerization, and online services. Utilize digital platforms for planning, reporting, and financial management.
* *Action Required:* Adopt and utilize eGramSwaraj and other digital tools for efficient governance and transparency.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Access to online services, increased transparency in Panchayat governance, and improved access to information.
* *Action Required:* Utilize online platforms like Meri Panchayat to access information and engage with Panchayat activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, a department within the Government of India.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at supplementing the efforts of States and Union Territories in building Panchayat infrastructure.
North Eastern States: Refers to the states in the north-eastern region of India, which receive particular focus under the RGSA scheme.
Common Service Centre (CSC): A physical facility for delivering e-governance services to rural citizens.
15th Finance Commission: The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, which provides recommendations on the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States.
eGramSwaraj: An online platform developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for facilitating planning processes at the grassroots level in Gram Panchayats.
Meri Panchayat: An application developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to bring transparency in Panchayat Governance.
BharatNet project: A project implemented by the Department of Telecommunications to achieve universal broadband connectivity for all Gram Panchayats in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. †340
ANSWEREDON 22/07/2025
PROPOSALTOCOMPUTERISATIONOFALLPANCHAYATS
†340.SMT.MANJU SHARMA:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing schemes to ensure adequate infrastructural
facilitiesinthe gram panchayatsinthe country, if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to computerise all the panchayats and make online
provision of services;
(c) if so, the details thereof and financial allocation made by the Government for this
purpose during the last three yearsand inthe current year;
(d) whether the computerisation intiatives includes latest technology/software/internet
connectivity and these are being upgraded from time to time in keeping with the
changingsoftware; and
(e) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE FORPANCHAYATI RAJ
(Prof.S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) Local Self Government and Village Administration being the State subject under the
7th Schedule of the Constitution, the primary responsibility for infrastructure development,
including computerization, in Panchayats lies with States/UTs. However, under the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the Ministry of
1Panchayati Raj (MoPR) supplements the efforts of states and UTs in building Panchayat
infrastructure, at a limited scale, with particular focus onthe North EasternStates. Under this
Scheme, the Ministry provides assistance for key infrastructure elements within Panchayats,
including the Panchayat Bhawan, Co-location of Common Service Centre (CSC), and
Computers and peripherals. States can also utilize funds from various sources, viz. the 15th
Finance Commission, State Finance Commission (SFC), Own Source Revenue (OSR), and
any otherresources availablewith the Gram Panchayats,to support theirinfrastructure needs.
Further, the Ministry encouragesStatesandPanchayats toleveragethese funds byconverging
themwith variousinfrastructure schemesof the Central andStateGovernments.
(b) to (e) Ministry supports the efforts of the States/UTs in computerization of Panchayats
with focus of providing online services to the residents of Panchayats. An amount of Rs.
520.66 crore has been allocated to States/UTs, including carryover from previous years, for
the computerization of Panchayats underthe e-Enablement componentof the Rashtriya Gram
SwarajAbhiyan (RGSA) during the last three yearsandthe current year.
In aneffort toimprove digitalGovernance,Ministry hasprovidedanonline platform
namely eGramSwaraj asa vital tool for facilitatingplanningprocess at the grassroots. It is a
comprehensive work-based application for preparation of annual development plans in
online mode, and offers enhanced transparency through online access to information and
documents, improved accountability by streamlining financial management, reporting, and
increased efficiency by simplifying administrative processes. Over 2,50,000 Gram
Panchayatsare using thisplatform for theirplanningprocess everyyear.
Furthermore, applications developed by the Ministry like Meri Panchayat has
endeavoured to bring transparency in Panchayat Governance by making information on
planning, activitiesand progress of works inPanchayat accessible to public.Similarly, audit
online platform has resulted in audit of expenditure of funds allocated under 15th Finance
Commission.
Committed to making technology/internet accessible to Panchayats, Ministry has
collaborated with the Department of Telecommunications for implementing Digital India,
BharatNet project to achieve universal broadband connectivity for all Gram Panchayats.
This initiative has opened doors for enhanced e-governance and improved online service
delivery.
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