(a) whether the Union Government has reviewed and studied the
extent of powers of self-governance to panchayats as per Article 243G
of the Constitution;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government has noticed any shortcomings
in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective measures taken or proposed to be taken by
Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI V. KISHORE CHANDRA DEO)
(a) & (b): As per Article 243G of the Constitution, States are to endow
Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable
them to function as institutions of self-government and to plan and
implement schemes for economic development and social justice, including
those in relation to matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. Within the
Constitutional framework, ‘local government’ is a State subject and States
Legislatures pass legislations suitable in their context. The powers devolved
by State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) to Panchayats are reviewed by
the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) from time to time. The present status of
devolution of Functions, Funds and Functionaries (3Fs) to the Panchayats by
various States/UTs is given in Annex.
(c) & (d): While States such as Kerala, Maharashtra, Sikkim and Karnataka have
devolved substantial powers to Panchayats, in several States the devolution,
particularly of functionaries and funds, is poor.
(e): Keeping in mind the Constitutional provisions in Part IX and the fact
that ‘Panchayats’ is a State subject, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has
incentivized States/UTs to devolve powers to the Panchayats. The Ministry
has also taken up this issue with other Ministries for assigning specific
roles and responsibilities to Panchayats in Centrally Sponsored Scheme relating
to socio-economic sectors for rural areas. The guidelines of the newly
sanctioned Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat
Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) provide for linkage of 20% of the scheme
funds to State performance on identified deliverables in the State Plan
which, inter alia, include ‘Ensuring devolution of functions, funds and
functionaries to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)’.