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13-September 2013
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FEATURE
Panchayati Raj
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English Features
Month September Year 2013
Their Cups of Joy are Full 12-
September,2013
Literacy can Eradicate Poverty, Curb
Population Growth, Achieve Gender
Equality and Ensure Sustainable
Development 09-September,2013
Water Conservation: A Need of the
Hour 06-September,2013
Siddha System of Medicine: Eco
Friendly and Patient Friendly 06-
September,2013
National Skill Development Scheme
06-September,2013
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for
Scheduled Castes Students -
Educating to Empower 05-
September,2013
YEGN Mainstreaming the Youth
04-September,2013
Voting Right: Power of the Powerless
03-September,2013
Special Service and Features
Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan





The key role of Panchayats in rural governance and socio-economic
development has been recognized since the 1950s. In the current context,
the need to strengthen Panchayats has intensified with the rise in
expenditure on programmes of social welfare and inclusion, as Panchayats
are vital to ensure that the benefits of these schemes reach the people,
management of local institutions is improved and accountability is enhanced.
There is need to provide Panchayats with adequate technical and
administrative support, strengthen their infrastructure and e-enablement,
promote devolution, improve their functioning i.e. regular democratic
meetings of the Panchayat, proper functioning of the standing committees,
voluntary disclosure and accountability of the Gram Sabha, proper
maintenance of accounts etc. It is against this background that the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan
(RGPSA) has been launched to strengthen Panchayati Raj. This scheme
was approved on 07.03.2013

The goals of the RGPSA are to enhance capacities and effectiveness of
Panchayats and the Gram Sabhas; Enable democratic decision-making and
accountability in Panchayats and promote peoples participation;
Strengthen the institutional structure for knowledge creation and capacity
building of Panchayats; Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities
to Panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution and PESA Act;
Strengthen Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of
peoples participation, transparency and accountability within the Panchayat
system; Create and strengthen democratic local self-government in areas
where Panchayats do not exist; and Strengthen the constitutionally
mandated framework on which Panchayats are founded.

The scheme recognizes the fact that States have different needs and
priorities and therefore allows for State specific planning, whereby States
can choose from a menu of permissible activities. Moreover 20% scheme
funds are linked to States performance on devolution and accountability.
States prepare perspective and annual plans to access funds under the
scheme. A Central Steering Committee headed by the Union Minister,
Panchayati Raj provides policy level guidance, while a Central Executive
Committee headed by Union Secretary, Panchayati Raj oversees the
implementation of the scheme.

This scheme is applicable to all States/ UTs including those which
presently are not covered by Part IX of the Constitution.

States are required to fulfill some essential conditions for
All Ministries
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accessing any RGPSA funds which include - Regular elections to
Panchayats or local bodies in non-Part IX areas under the superintendence
and control of the State Election Commission (SEC); At least one third
reservation for women in Panchayats or other local bodies; Constitution of
SFC every five years, and placement of Action Taken Report on the
recommendations of the SFC in the State legislature; and Constitution of
District Planning Committees (DPCs) in all districts, and issuing of
guidelines/rules to make these functional.

States that do not fulfill the above essential conditions are not eligible for
funds under RGPSA.

Twenty percent scheme funds are linked to action taken by the
States for implementation of the provisions of the 73rd Amendment to the
Constitution of India in the following areas - Articulating an appropriate
policy framework for providing administrative and technical support to
Panchayats; Strengthening the financial base of Panchayats by assigning
appropriate taxes, fees, etc.; Provision of untied funds to Panchayats and
timely release of SFC and Central Finance Commission (CFC) grants;
Ensuring devolution of funds, functions and functionaries; Preparing and
operationalizing a framework for bottom-up grassroots planning and
convergence through the DPC; Ensuring free and fair elections, and making
the SEC autonomous; Strengthening the institutional structure for capacity
building of Panchayats, selecting suitable partners for capacity building, and
improving outreach and quality of capacity building; Putting in place a
system of performance assessment of Panchayats; Strengthening Gram
Sabhas, promoting Mahila Sabhas/Ward Sabhas; Institutionalizing
accountability processes such as voluntary disclosure of information and
social audit; Strengthening the system of budgeting, accounts and audit,
including use of e-enabled processes. Maintenance of Panchayat accounts
on-line at least for District and Intermediate Panchayats. Issuing of
guidelines/rules for voluntary disclosure of budget and accounts by
Panchayat, and ensuring compliance of State laws and rules with PESA.

Activities that can be included in State plans under RGPSA are -
Administrative and Technical Support at the Gram Panchayat level; GP
Buildings; Capacity Building and Training of Elected Representatives &
Functionaries; Institutional Structure for Training at State, District & Block
level; e-enablement of Panchayats; Support to Panchayat Processes and
Procedures in Panchayats with Inadequate Revenue Base; Special Support
for Gram Sabhas in PESA and NE Areas; Programme Management;
Information, Education, Communication (IEC); Strengthening of State
Election Commission (SECs) and Innovative Activities in States. In
addition, RGPSA will provide support to innovative projects to strengthen
Panchayati Raj and incentivize Panchayats for their performance.

By strengthening Panchayati Raj, RGPSA will strengthen
grassroots governance in the country, enhance accountability and increase
the space for peoples participation.

(PIB Features.)

******

*Inputs from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

SS-66/SF-66/14-08-2013

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