The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Rural Development Shri Narendra Singh Tomar today said that under the 14th Finance Commission, Centre will be releasing more than 2 lakh crore rupess to Gram Panchayats for 5 years to undertake physical and social infrastructure projects in the villages. Addressing the media here on the eve of the National Panchayati Raj Day to be observed on 24th April, 2017 at Lucknow, the Minister said that earlier about Rs 30,000 crore was allocated to the Panchayats in the 13th Finance commission, wherein Panchayats found it difficult to execute developmental projects in a holistic fashion. Laying stress on training of Panchayat functionaries and to promote healthy completion among panchayats, the Ministry is making all out efforts for the real empowerment of Gram Panchayats.
Shri Tomar said that the Panchayati Raj Ministry has asked all Gram Panchayats to prepare advance planning related to problems faced by them and till date more than one lakh 75, 000 village development plans were received. He said that each village has on an average 4 to 5 major issues like drinking water, drainage system, roads and solid and liquid waste management, which can be solved easily as now there is no dearth of funds to the Panchayats. He said that training programme will be undertaken by SIRD and State Governments jointly to enlighten and empower the PR functionaries.This year Ministry of Panchayati Raj is commemorating National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2017 at Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh . The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Adityanath Yogi will inaugurate the conference while the Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking water and sanitation will preside over the function.