MoPR’s localization of sustainable development goals (LSDG) initiative, emphasis has been laid for capacity building and training of the PRI representatives to formulate theme-based Gram Panchayat Development Plans through convergence of resources and activities.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has introduced the Panchayat Development Index (PDI) to gauge the performance of the Panchayats in achieving various developmental goals through planning and execution of panchayat development projects, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Kapil Moreshwar Patil informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The minister said that this was in addition to the mandatory evaluation of the relevant scheme of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for its effectiveness in providing training as a major component of the scheme.
Besides this, Patil informed the Rajya Sabha that the ministry is implementing the RGSA scheme for capacity building and training of elected representatives of the PRIs and their functionaries. These schemes, the minister said, pertain to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj’s capacity building initiatives covers various thematic areas such as formulation and implementation of panchayat development plans for socio-economic development of weaker sections of the society, women and children and such other vulnerable groups.
He said that under the MoPR’s localization of sustainable development goals (LSDG) initiative, emphasis has been laid for capacity building and training of the PRI representatives to formulate theme-based Gram Panchayat Development Plans through convergence of resources and activities with a ‘whole of Government and whole of Society’ approach for gender sensitive and socially inclusive development to ensure socially secured, women and child friendly villages in consonance with the sustainable development goals.
The budget of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) includes provision for computerization of the Panchayats under RGSA scheme, digital solutions under the Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats scheme. In addition, the Ministry has collaborated with Department of Telecommunications for implementing Digital India, BharatNet project to achieve universal broadband connectivity for all Gram Panchayats to enable them to provide e-service delivery.
In addition to conducting of Gram Sabhas by the Gram Panchayats involving all Stakeholder and voters of the Gram Panchayats to formulate and approve Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP), People’s Plan Campaigns (PPC) are organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj every year to consult all stakeholder before formulating annual GPDP by the Gram Panchayats. The existing measures and initiatives for central support to the States for capacity building and training of the elected representatives of the PRIs and their functionaries localisation of sustainable development goals, digitalization of Panchayats, infrastructural support to the PRIs, collaboration with relevant ministry ensuring digital infrastructure to the Panchayats will continue in the upcoming fiscal.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Biswaroop Ganguly
