Parliament Question: Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 5290 ANSWEREDON 24/03/2026 RASHTRIYAGRAM SWARAJABHIYAN 5290.SHRIGOVIND MAKTHAPPAKARJOL: Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state: (a) the details of the implementation status of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) during the last 5yearsinChitradurga District of Karnataka; (b) the total funds allocated and released by the Union Government under RGSA to Karnataka andChitradurga District, year-wise; (c) the details of capacity building and training programmes conducted for elected representativesandPanchayat functionariesinChitradurga District underRGSA; (d) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen digital governance and e-Panchayat systems inGram Panchayatsof Chitradurga District; and (e) the details of infrastructure support provided to Gram Panchayats, including Panchayat Bhavans, underthe scheme inthe district? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) to (c) Panchayat, being “Local Self Government”, is a State subject. However, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) since the financial year 2022-23 in States/ UTs, including in Chitradurga District of the State of Karnataka. The main objective of the scheme is to build the capacity of Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) by creatinga learning ecosystem especially through trainingto the Elected Representatives (ERs), functionaries and otherstakeholders to develop their governance capabilities to function effectively and also by supporting for exposure visits, developmentof training modulesandmaterials,etc. Further, the scheme also providessupport for the establishment of aninstitutional mechanism for theCapacityBuilding&Training andtocreatePanchayatinfrastructureona limitedscale, likeGramPanchayatBhawan,ComputerandCo-locationofCommonServiceCentres(CSCs) inGram PanchayatBhawan. Revamped RGSAis demand-driven in nature. Funds are released to States/UTs based on the Annual Action Plans approved by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the pace of expenditure.Release of funds isalso subject tothe submission of requisite documentssuch as Utilization Certificates and Auditor’s Reports. The funds are to be utilized only for the 1approved components as prioritized by the States/UTs. The Ministry releases the funds under the scheme to States/UTs only. The year-wise details of funds allocated and released since the launchof Revampedto the Stateof Karnataka,includingChitradurga district isasfollows: (Rs. incrore) 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (As on 28.02.2026) Funds Fund Funds Fund Funds Fund Funds Fund Allocate Release Allocate Release Allocate Release Allocate Release d d# d d# d d# d d# 36.00 36.00 20.00 20.00 16.25 16.25 20.00 20.00 #ForFY 2025–26,the releases comprise fundsthrough bothSNA till 30thJune 2025 andSNA- SPARSHsince 1stJuly 2025. Under the scheme of revamped RGSA, the Ministry provides support for Capacity Building & Training of elected representatives, functionaries, and other stakeholders of Panchayats in different categories, viz., general orientation and refresher training, thematic training, specialized training, panchayat development plan training, etc. Capacity-building initiatives have enabled Panchayat representatives to undertake participatory planning, particularly in the preparation and implementation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans(GPDPs). Atotal of 11,57,048 participantshave beentrainedso far, asof 28.02.2026,inthe Stateof Karnataka. Further, as reported by the State of Karnataka, 23,896 elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries have been trained in Chitradurga district under Revamped RGSA since launch of the scheme. (d) The Ministry is implementing the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) under RGSAacross the country, includingin Chitradurga District, which hassignificantly enhanced transparency, efficiency, and governance at the grassroots level. The eGramSwaraj application, developed as part of the e-Panchayat MMP, 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 paymentstovendorsandservice providers, ensuring seamless fund flow andreducingdelays. Further, the Ministry has also developed several other applications under the e-Panchayat MMP. The Meri Panchayat application provides citizens with access to information on Panchayat planning, activities, and the progress of works. Panchayat NIRNAY facilitates transparent conduct and management of Gram Sabha meetings. The AuditOnline application enables online auditing of Panchayat accounts and financial management, particularly for the utilization of Central Finance Commission grants. In addition, the Ministry has introduced SabhaSaar, anAI-enabledplatform for voice-to-text transcription andsummarisation of Gram Sabha andPanchayat meetings, ensuring accuratedocumentation of proceedings. For the financial year 2025–26, all 189 Panchayats of Chitradurga district have successfully uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs). Additionally, all 189 Panchayats have been onboarded onto the eGS-PFMS platform. An amount of Rs. 68.116 crore hasbeendisbursed aspaymentsduring the current year. (e) Panchayat, being “Local Government”, is a State subject and part of the State list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Thus, the primary responsibility of providing dedicated office infrastructure for Gram Panchayats lies with States/UTs. The States/ UTs 2have to ensure that the Gram Panchayat Bhawan is available and functional, with provisions such as public seating, space for Gram Sabha meetings, information walls, multifunctional rooms, etc.,tosupport effective governance andcommunityuse. However, apart from training interventions, under RGSA, the Ministry supplements the efforts of States/UTs on a limited scale by supporting the establishment of institutional mechanisms for capacity building and training, and by providing infrastructural support such as construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawans, procurement of computers, co-location of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in Gram Panchayat Bhawans, development of Panchayat Learning Centres (PLCs), etc., on a limited scale with particular focus on the North Eastern States. So far, in the State of Karnataka, the Ministry has approved the construction and co-location of 258 GP Bhawans and Common Service Centres (CSCs), along with 270 Panchayat Learning Centres (PLCs). Out of this, construction of 27 GP bhawans and 7 PLCs was approvedfor Chitradurga District. **** 3