Govt says special steps taken for expanding Panchayati Raj institutes

New Delhi: Government has taken a special initiative for expanding the outreach and enhancing the quality of training for Panchayati Raj Institutes, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

Panchayati Raj Minister Birender Singh said the National Capability Building Framework (NCBF) 2014 has been prepared for effective implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) after extensive consultations with state governments and non-government organisations.

Handbooks, manuals for training of Panchayati Raj Institutes have been developed and shared with state governments on the issues related to sanitation, drinking water and governance in panchayats, he said during Question Hour.

The minister said consultative workshop with State Institutes of Rural Development to enable peer learning was also held.

Detailed review with state secretaries on RGPSA, conducting video conferences, zonal meetings and development of RGPSA management information system are some of the other activities undertaken for effective implementation of RGPSA.

The RGPSA has been launched to strengthen panchayati raj system across the country during 12th five-year plan. RGPSA supports need based activities including administrative and technical expertise and infrastructure for gram panchayats, capacity building and training, e-enabling of panchayats and special support for panchayat processes.

The funding of RGPSA for state plans is on a 75:25 sharing basis by central and state governments respectively. For northeastern states, the ratio is 90:10.

PTI