LOK SABHA
E-GOVERNANCE OF PANCHAYATS
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:
(a) the extent of implementation of e-governance in the Panchayats across the country, at present;
(b) whether the Government has provided financial assistance to the States for the purpose and if so, the details thereof for the last three years and the current year along with the utilisation thereof;
(c) whether power shortage in rural areas is a major hindrance in the proper working of e- governance of panchayats;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the other alternative measures adopted or are likely to be adopted by the Government to overcome the problem of power shortage in this regard?
(SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)
(a) Under Digital India Programme, Ministry is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project, in the country to revamp the functioning of Panchayats and to make them more transparent, accountable and effective. Ministry launched eGram Swaraj a simplified work-based Accounting application to addresses various aspects of Panchayat functioning viz. planning, accounting, budgeting including online payments through eGram Swaraj-PFMS Interface for services delivered. Currently, 2,58,694 Panchayati Raj Institutions have prepared Panchayat Development Plans for Financial Year 2021-22 and 2,75,252 Panchayati Raj Institutions have adopted eGram Swaraj for the purpose of accounting. Further, 2,53,523 Panchayati Raj Institutions have onboarded eGram Swaraj-PFMS Interface for carrying out online transactions.
(b) No direct financial assistant is provided to States / UTs for implementation of e-governance in the Panchayats under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project. Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has been providing programmatic support for strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and capacity building of Elected Representatives and functionaries of PRIs to improve their functioning and effectiveness and make them self-reliant.
(c) to (e) Panchayat being a State subject, providing basic infrastructure facilities including computers, electric power supply etc. is primarily the responsibility of concerned State Government / UT Administration for proper working of e-governance of panchayats.