India 2018

Rural and Urban Development 471
provision for the reservation of seats for women and marginalized sections
(scheduled castes and scheduled tribes) of Indian society. While reservation of
schedule castes (SCs) & scheduled tribes (STs) is in proportion to their share in
population, that for women is at least 33.33 per cent. However, many states
have increased the reservation of seats and chairperson posts for women in
panchayats to 50 per cent. The Constitution of India also stipulates direct
elections of all members of panchayats. For conducting these elections, all states
are mandated to constitute a state election commission. Also it is compulsory
for states to constitute a State election commission. Also it is compulsory for
states to constitute a State Finance Commission (SFC) every fifth year for
recommending principles for division of financial resources between state and
local governments (both urban and rural). SFCs are to make recommendations
to the Governor regarding the distribution between the state and panchayats of
the net proceeds to taxes, duties, toll and fees, etc. the determination of taxes,
dudies, tolls and fees which may be assigned to, or appropriated by, the
panchayats, and grants-in-aid to the panchayats from the Consolidated Fund
of the State, as well as measures needed to improve the financial position of
panchayats.
Within this broad framework, as local government is a state subject, State
legislatures have a critical role in determining various aspects of panchayati raj
in their states. States are keys as far as devolution of powers to panchayats is
concerned. The Constitution envisaged that Panchayats will function as
institutions of local government and prepare plans and implement schemes for
economic development and social justice, but leaves the precise devolution of
powers and authority to panchayats to the states.
Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan
To improve the functioning of PRI, the MoPR implemented the Rajiv Gandhi
Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) in the 12th Five Year Plan period
i.e., from 2012-13 upto 2015-16. The RGPSA addressed the major constraints of
inadequate devolution of powers, lack of manpower, inadequate infrastructure
and limited capacity in the effective functioning of panchayats by providing
manpower, infrastructure, training and promotion of devolution of power to
panchayats and put in place structures of accountability. Substantive funds had
been released to the states upto 2014-15 towards the above activities.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGGA) will focus on capacity building
of Panchayati Raj Institutions for convergent action to deliver basic services
and achieve development goals. Under RGSA comprehensive efforts will be
made to support and enhance the capacity building and training facilities for
all stakeholders with particular thrust on the aspects of GPDP.
e-Panchayat
e-Panchayat was identified as one of the 27 Mission Mode Projects under the
National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) formulated in 2006.