States should devolve powers to Panchayat bodies for true Gram Swaraj-Birender Singh

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 24-Apr-2015

The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Birender Singh today said that it is the Joint responsibility of the Centre and the States to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions for achieving the goal of grassroot democracy and Gram Swaraj. Speaking on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day here this morning, he said that though the Constitution had provision for devolution of administrative and financial powers to Panchayati Raj bodies, but many states are still reluctant to transfer these powers. 

Singh said that the 14th Finance Commission has awarded Rs. 200,292.2 crores to Panchayats for 2015-2020, which is more than three and half times than the grant of the 13th Finance Commission, FC. The 13th FC had recommended a percentage of the divisible pool for local bodies, and the estimated grant for Panchayats was Rs. 63,051 crores. While the 13th FC grant was for all three tiers of Panchayats: district, block and Gram Panchayat, the 14th FC grant is for Gram Panchayats only. The fund availability at the GP level will now be Rs. 2,404 per capita over five years, and Rs. 17 lakh per year (Rs.85 lakh for five years) for an average Gram Panchayat. The Ministry is also working on a formula for grant of funds in proportion of the size of the Gram Panchayats. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Shri Nihal Chand said that the Fourteenth Finance Commission grant is to be spent on basic services such as sanitation, drinking water, maintenance of community assets etc. He said, for this, Panchayats will have to prepare local plans, to ensure that these basic services reach everyone, including the most marginalized sections of society. Special awards were given to the best performing Panchayats in different categories.