A sum of Rs731 crore has been allocated by the 14th Finance Commission to the State’s village panchayats to develop basic amenities in rural areas and to put into practice the concept of Smart Village. Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava said that through these funds, the gram panchayats will be able to develop basic amenities in a better way.
ACS Panchayats and Rural Development Aruna Sharma informed that funds have been allocated by the Commission on the basis of population of year 2011. Of this, 90 per cent amount has been allocated on the basis of population and 10 per cent on the basis of area. These funds will be utilised in planned manner. For this, Gram Panchayats will chalk out their respective development plans under the scheme ‘Smart Gram – Smart Panchayat Yojana’.
Development plan will be chalked out keeping in view local scenario and mutual partnership. Works to be undertaken in future in all components will be included in development plan. Gram Panchayats will be able to seek technical guidance from local skilled persons.
Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat and Secretary will be responsible to chalk out development plan. Cluster in-charge (Assistant Development Extension Officer/Panchayat Coordination Officer) will be in-charge of all Gram Panchayats in his cluster. Similarly, Janpad Panchayat CEO would be charge officer for Janpad Panchayat areas, Block Panchayat
Officer assistant charge officer and at district Panchayat level CEO will be charge officer of entire district. Standing committees of Janpad and district Panchayats will also monitor planning process.
Per annum funds to be given by 14th Finance Commission to Gram Panchayats will be totally explicit. They would be informed about it well in time. Accounts of funds with all financial documents will be maintained on Panchayat Darpan portal. Information about income and expenditure of Gram Panchayats on the portal will be basis for distribution of funds under performance head.
Transparency will be ensured in publication of figures on service level, accounting and auditing. The commission has also recommended that strict action should be taken if irregularities are detected in management of funds. Similarly, proper accounting of income and expenditure and justifiable utilisation of funds will be mandatory.