Ministry of Panchyati Raj

About Ministry

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India looking after the ongoing process of decentralisation and local governance in the States. Ministry of Panchayati Raj looks into all matters relating to the Panchayati Raj and Panchayati Raj Institutions. It was created in May 2004. 
• In a federation the powers and functions of the government are divided among two governments. In India it is the Union Government and the various State Governments. However, with the passage of 73rd and 74th amendment act of the Constitution of India, in 1993 the division of powers and functions have been further trickled down to Local Self Governments (Panchayat at Village levels and Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in towns and large cities). As such India now has not two but three tier of Governments in its federal setup.
• The Vision of the Ministry is to attain decentralized and participatory local self-government through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Mission of the Ministry of Panchyati Raj is to Empowerment, enablement and accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions to ensure inclusive development with social justice, and efficient delivery of services.

 

RASHTRIYA GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN (RGSA)

• A Centrally sponsored scheme under Ministry of Panchyati Raj.
• It is a revamped version of erstwhile ‘Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan ‘

Objectives

• • For developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Coverage

• • It extends to all States/ UTs and will also include institutions of rural local government in non-Part IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist.

Components

• • Central Component – National Level activities including “National Plan of Technical Assistance”, “Mission Mode project on e-Panchayat”, & “lncentivization of Panchayats”.
  • State component – Capacity Building of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls)

Salient Features

• • Recently, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
  • It aims at making rural local bodies self-sustainable, financially stable and more efficient.
  • It seeks to address critical gaps that hinder the success of Panchayats by enhancing their capacities and effectiveness, and promote devolution of powers and responsibilities.
  • Strengthen Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of people’s participation, transparency and accountability within the Panchayat system.
  • Implementation & monitoring – it will broadly be aligned for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with main thrust on Panchayats identified under Mission Antyodaya and 117 Aspirational districts as identified by NITI Aayog.
  • Priority areas – Subjects of national importance that affects the excluded groups the most, e.g. poverty, primary health services, nutrition, immunization, sanitation, education, water conservation, digital transactions etc.
  • Convergence – The Scheme will converge capacity building initiatives of other Ministries with particular focus on those Ministries which will be impacted substantially by this Scheme
  • The State Government will formulate their Annual Action Plans for seeking assistance from the Central Government as per their priorities and requirement.
  • Sunset date for RGSA will be 31.03.2030.

 

GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN

Objectives

• • To promote social harmony, reach out to poor rural households, obtain feedback on ongoing programmes, enrol in new initiatives, focus on doubling farmers’ income, enhance livelihood opportunities and re-emphasise national priorities such as cleanliness and strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions.

Salient Features

• • The campaign is undertaken under the name of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas”.
  • It is a special focused intervention of seven schemes in backward districts.
  • Seven Scheme are –
    1. 1. Pradhan Mantir Jan Dhan Yojan,
       2. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bimna yojana,
       3. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana,
       4. SAUBHAGYA,
       5. UJALA,
       6. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwla Yojana, and
       7. Mission Indradhanush.

 

SABKI YOJNA SABKA VIKAS & PEOPLE’S PLAN CAMPAIGN

• The government recently launched People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) for panchayats (from 2^nd October – 31^st December), with the slogan “Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas”.
• The campaign was rolled out with structured gram sabha meetings for preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for 2019-20.
• Special efforts have been made to ensure maximum participation of vulnerable sections of society like SC/ST/Women etc.

People’s Plan Campaign

Activities & Action items

• • Appointment of Nodal Officers for the campaign and completion of exercise of Mission Antyodaya (MA) data collection in respect of all Gram Panchayats.
  • Operationalization of a portal (www.gpdp.nic.in), for monitoring progress of the campaign. Appointment of facilitator for every Gram Panchayat/Rural Local body.
  • Finalization of Gram Sabha wise calendar for holding of Special Gram Sabhas for GPDP planning.
  • Appointing frontline workers of all departments related to 29 subjects to be deputed for structured presentation in Gram Sabha meetings on the designated days.
  • Uploading of geo-tagged visuals of GS meetings and photographs on the web portal.
  • Preparation of GPDP and publishing of approved plan on ‘PlanPlus’ application.

Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)

• • Gram Panchayats have been mandated with the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for economic development and social justice.
  • Aim of GPDP – To strengthen the role of 31 lakh elected Panchayat leaders and 2.5 crore SHG Women under DAY-NRLM in effective gram sabha.
  • Key Feature– GPDP has to be comprehensive and based on participatory process which involves the full convergence with Schemes of all related Central Ministries / Line Departments related to 29 subjects enlisted in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution.

 

PANCHAYAT EMPOWERMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY INCENTIVE SCHEME (PEAIS)

• A Central Sector Plan Scheme under Ministry of Panchyati Raj, introduced in 2005-06

Objectives

• • Incentivisation of States for devolving funds, functions and functionaries (3Fs) to Panchayats. Incentivization of Panchayats to put in place accountability systems to make their functioning transparent and efficient.

Salient Features

• • Devolution Index
    • Under PEAIS, State Governments/UTs are ranked on a Devolution Index which measures the extent of devolution of 3Fs by States to Panchayats.
    • States are ranked on the DI through a study conducted by an independent organization. Since 2011-12, best performing Panchayats in the country have also been incentivized.

 

To read and learn about Government Schemes and Programs related to other Ministries, Click Here. (Notes on all Government Ministries Schemes and Programs)