**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of Panchayati Raj to Unstarred Question No. 285 concerning the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) in Tamil Nadu, scheduled to be answered on December 2, 2025. It details the features, coverage, financial allocation, and impact of RGSA in Tamil Nadu, including plans for expansion and enhancement of services. The response also highlights the adoption of eGramSwaraj at the Panchayat level in Tamil Nadu during FY 2024-25.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Objectives/Features of Revamped RGSA:**
* Develop capacity of elected representatives for leadership roles, enabling Gram Panchayats to function effectively.
* Strengthen Gram Sabhas for effective participation within the Panchayat system.
* Promote e-governance and technology-driven solutions for good governance, administrative efficiency, and transparent service delivery.
* Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats.
* **Implementation and Capacity Building:**
* The scheme is being implemented since FY 2022-23 to capacitate Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
* Capacity building and training of elected representatives, functionaries, and other stakeholders are supported.
* The scheme supports exposure visits, training modules, institutional mechanisms, and Panchayat infrastructure.
* Capacity building and training are conducted through institutes of excellence under the Leadership/Management Development Program (MDP).
* **Financial Allocation and Coverage:**
* Rs. 90.42 crore (Central & State Share) has been released to Tamil Nadu since FY 2022-23 (as on 25.11.2025).
* Rs. 127.86 crore has been utilized against approved components of RGSA.
* 12,482 Gram Panchayats are covered under the scheme, including 461 in Kallakurichi Lok Sabha Constituency.
* **Digital Governance and Transparency:**
* The Ministry is strengthening digital governance through the revamped RGSA and the Digital India Programme.
* Efforts are focused on interoperability, expanding citizen-centric services, and upgrading technological infrastructure.
* Initiatives like eGramSwaraj enable online preparation and uploading of Annual Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).
* Integration with PFMS and GeM streamlines financial transactions and promotes transparent procurement.
* **Adoption of eGramSwaraj in FY 2024-25:**
* All village panchayats (12,525) are onboard eGramSwaraj, with 12,520 having online payment.
* 12,500 panchayats have approved GPDP.
* All block (388) and zila (36) panchayats are onboard eGramSwaraj and have approved GPDP, with 388 and 36 having online payment respectively.
**Impact Analysis**
**Elected Representatives of PRIs / Gram Panchayats**
* **Impact:** Enhanced capacity for leadership roles and improved governance capabilities. Increased participation and responsibilities in the Panchayat system through initiatives like e-GramSwaraj.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs and workshops, adopt e-governance solutions for improved administrative efficiency and service delivery, and utilize platforms like eGramSwaraj for planning and monitoring developmental activities.
**Citizens/Public**
* **Impact:** Improved access to information on Panchayat activities and projects, leading to greater transparency and accountability. Better service delivery and enhanced citizen-centric services through digital platforms and improved infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available online platforms like Meri Panchayat and Panchayat NIRNAY to access information on local governance and participate in Gram Sabhas for decision-making.
**Government (Central and State)**
* **Impact:** Streamlined financial transactions, improved monitoring of projects, and enhanced transparency and accountability in Panchayat governance through integration with PFMS and GeM.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and expand the RGSA scheme, focus on deepening interoperability among existing platforms, and upgrade technological infrastructure to support efficient planning, monitoring, and delivery of essential services.
Key Entities Referenced
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A scheme aimed at strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions by enhancing governance, infrastructure, and public service delivery at the grassroots level.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is being implemented, as specified in the document.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs): Local self-government bodies at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
eGramSwaraj: A key initiative under the Digital India Programme to enhance the eGovernance capabilities of Panchayats.
PESA Act 1996: The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, which promotes devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats.
GOVERNMENTOF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 285
TO BE ANSWEREDON 02/12/2025
RASHTRIYAGRAM SWARAJ ABHIYANIN TAMILNADU
285. SHRIMALAIYARASAN D:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) the featuresof the Rashtriya Gram SwarajAbhiyan (RGSA), includingitsobjectivesand
keycomponentsaimedat strengthening PanchayatiRaj Institutions;
(b) the number of Gram Panchayats covered under the scheme in Tamil Nadu so far, especially
inKallakurichiLokSabha Constituency;
(c) the total financial allocation made for RGSAin Tamil Nadu, especially in Kallakurichi Lok
Sabha Constituency;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to enhance the capacity of Panchayat members and
officials through trainingprograms, workshops andotherinitiativesunderRGSA;
(e) the impact of RGSAon improvinggovernance, infrastructure and deliveryof public services
at the grassroots levelinTamil Nadu; and
(f) the future plans for expanding the scope of RGSA, including the integration of more Gram
Panchayatsandenhancement of services andinfrastructure at the grassroots level?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a) The major objectives/features of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) are as
under:
(i) Develop the capacity of elected representatives of PRIsfor leadership Roles toenable the
Gram Panchayatstofunctioneffectivelyasthirdtierof Government;
(ii) Strengthening Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of people's
participationwithin thePanchayatsystem.
(iii) Promote e-governance and other technology driven solutions to enable good governance
in Panchayat administrative efficiency and improved service delivery with transparency
andaccountability;
(iv) Promote devolutionof powers andresponsibilities toPanchayats accordingtothe spirit of
the ConstitutionandPESAAct1996;etc.
1Under revamped scheme, capacity building and training of elected representatives,
functionariesandotherstakeholdersofPanchayatssupported underdifferentcategoriesviz.basic
orientation, refresher training, thematic training, specialized training, panchayat development
plan training, etc. Apart from different trainings, scheme also supports for exposure visits,
developmentoftrainingmodulesandmaterials,etc.Inaddition,the schemealso providessupport
for establishment of institutional mechanism for the capacity building & training and to create
Panchayat infrastructure like Gram Panchayat Bhawan, Computer and Co-location of Common
ServiceCentres(CSCs) inGram PanchayatBhawan onlimitedscale.
(b) to(d) The scheme isbeingimplemented since financialyear2022-23 inStates/ UTsincluding
Tamil Nadu, with main objective of capacitating Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through
imparting training to the Elected Representatives (ERs), functionaries and other stakeholders to
develop their governance capabilities for leadership roles to enable the Panchayats to function
effectively. Under revamped scheme, capacity building and training of elected representatives,
functionariesandotherstakeholders of Panchayatssupported underdifferentcategoriesviz.basic
orientation, refresher training, thematic training, specialized training, panchayat development
plan training, etc. Apart from different trainings, scheme also supports for exposure visits,
development of training modules and materials, etc. In addition, a new initiative has also been
taken for capacity building and training of elected representatives and functionaries of
Panchayats through institutes of excellence under Leadership/Management Development
Program (MDP). Ministry also organizes workshop on different subjects and sharing of best
practicesforcross Statelearning.
Since FY 2022-23 under the scheme, (as on 25.11.2025) an amount of Rs. 90.42 cr.
(Central & State Share) has been released to the State of Tamil Nadu out of which Rs. 127.86 cr.
has been utilized against the approved components of RGSA which includes capacity building,
infrastructure development for improving governance at the Panchayat level. Utilization of funds
includes unspent balance of previous years. As reported by the State of Tamil Nadu, a total of
12,482 Gram Panchayats are covered under the scheme of RGSA in the State, including 461
GramPanchayatswithinthe KallakurichiLokSabhaConstituency.
(e) & (f) The Ministry has been implementing the revamped RGSA to strengthen digital
governance, and will, in the future, continue to focus on deepening interoperability among
existing platforms, expanding citizen-centric service modules, and upgrading technological
infrastructure tosupport moreefficientplanning,monitoring,anddeliveryof essentialservices.
Under the Mission Mode Project (MMP) of revamped scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj
Abhiyan (RGSA) the Digital India Programme supported to enhance the eGovernance
capabilities of Panchayats, ensuring better service delivery, transparency, accountability, and
effectiveness in Panchayat governance. This is achieved through initiatives like eGramSwaraj,
which enables Panchayats to prepare and upload their Annual Panchayat Development Plans
(GPDPs) online, and integration with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for streamlined financial transactions and transparent
procurement.
The e-GramSwaraj is highly beneficial inmonitoring the work done in the panchayats by
enhancingtransparency andaccountability through real-time trackingof developmental activities
2and financial expenditures. It simplifies work-based accounting, integrates with the Public
Financial Management System (PFMS) for accurate financial reporting, and allows
comprehensive monitoringof projects,includinggeo-taggingof assets.
Further, applications developed by the Ministry like Meri Panchayat has endeavored to
bring transparency in Panchayat Governance by making information on planning, activities and
progress of works in Panchayat accessible to public. Similarly, Panchayat NIRNAY is an online
application aims at bringing transparency and better management in conduct of Gram Sabhas by
Panchayats.
An application of ‘AuditOnline’ has been developed for online audits of Panchayat
accounts and their financial management. AuditOnline for transparent auditing of Central 2
Finance Commission funds utilization to strengthen financial management of Panchayats
launched in April 2020. The adoption of eGramSwaraj at the Panchayat level in Tamil Nadu
duringFY2024-25highlightstheimpactofRGSA.
Adoptionof eGramSwaraj at PanchayatlevelinTamil Naduduring 2024-25
Sl.No. Parameter Count
1 TotalNumber ofVillage Panchayats& Equivalent 12,525*
2 Village PanchayatsonboardoneGramSwaraj 12,525
3 Village Panchayats& EquivalentwithOnline Payment 12,520
4 TotalNumber ofPanchayatswithapprovedGPDP 12,500
5 TotalNumber ofBlockPanchayats& Equivalent 388
6 BlockPanchayatsonboardoneGramSwaraj 388
7 BlockPanchayatswith OnlinePayment 388
8 TotalNumber ofBlockPanchayatswith approvedGPDP 388
9 TotalNumber ofZila Panchayats& Equivalent 36
10 Zila PanchayatsonboardoneGramSwaraj 36
11 Zila PanchayatswithOnlinePayment 36
12 TotalNumber ofZila Panchayatswith approvedGPDP 36
*data pertainstofinancial year2024-25.
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