The Panchayats and Rural Development Department is launching Madhya Pradesh Panch Parmeshwar Yojna with the objective of further empowering Gram Panchayats so that these institutions can work more effectively. Under the scheme, funds for various schemes will be provided to state’s a total 23,010 Panchayats in lump sum. The easy availability of financial resources will facilitate Gram Panchayats to work more easily and smoothly. This multi-purpose scheme will help strengthen the three-tier Panchayati Raj system further through infrastructure development.
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the scheme at the open-air stage of Ravindra Bhavan, Bhopal on January 10, 2012 at 12.30 pm. Panchayats & Rural Development and Social Justice Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava will preside over the function while Minister of State for Panchayats & Rural Development Shri Dev Singh Sayyam will be the guest of honour.
Initiative has been taken in the state to consolidate the funds made available to Panchayats by the Direcotrate of panchayats in the Panchayati Raj account through Integrated Action Plan for rural development. Now, the Gram Panchayats will get consolidated funds on the basis of population during financial year. Under the scheme, a consolidated fund of Rs. 5 lakh will be made available to Gram Panchayats with upto two thousand population, Rs. 8 lakh to Gram Panchayats with two thousand to five thousand population, Rs. 10 lakh to Gram Panchayats with five thousand to ten thousand population and Rs. 15 lakh to the Gram Panchayats with over ten thousand population.
So far, funds under various schemes were made available to Panchayats in piecemeal. That was why development works were undertaken in villages in bits and pieces. Panch Parmeshwar Yojna will help remove this lacuna and development works will gather momentum. At presents, funds are separately received by the Gram Panchayats under various heads of 13th Finance Commission, basic grants under State Finance Plan and revenue share from mining and stamp duties due to which they are unable to utilise these funds simultaneously. Under the new scheme, every Panchayat will be provided funds as per 13th Finance Commission and third State Finance Commission. If any Panchayat gets less funds under Panch Parmeshwar Yojna, it will compensate the shortage from the funds received from mining and stamp duty revenue. Similarly, the Gram Panchayats which are getting more funds thus far can get additional funds after utilisation of previous funds.
The Gram Panchayats have been suggested to chalk out an additional Integrated Action Plan for first two years on the basis of population. Under the scheme, construction of drains and internal roads and Anganwadi buildings, wherever previously sanctioned, will be undertaken. A 200-square feet e-panchayat room will be constructed on the premises of old Gram Panchayat Bhavan. The Gram Panchayats can utilise 10 percent funds on the maintenance of assets and sanitation works.