Madhya Pradesh (MP) has been adjudged first in the entire country for excellent work in scheduled areas in accordance with the spirit of Panchayati Raj and compliance with Constitutional provisions during 2015-16. The State has 5,211 villages in 20 districts in the scheduled area.
On Panchayati Raj Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give away the first prize for excellent implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act) in MP to Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava at Jamshedpur on April 24.
In MP, constant excellent works have been undertaken through special efforts of different dimensions including treasury, action plan and personnel management. These three dimensions are key to the success of Panchayats.
Strategy for rural development has been chalked out in MP by focusing on these dimensions, which drew encomiums at the national level. An experts committee constituted by the Central Government also lauded these works. The committee found MP excellent in all three norms.
MP will get Rs 13,555 crore for its Five Year Plan as per recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. These funds will be utilised for basic development works in villages.
'One Panchayat, One Bank Account' policy has been implemented in the State. Accounts and expenditures of all panchayats have been made totally transparent and cheque payments have been totally abolished.
It has brought transparency in payments and increased credibility among the people. Accounts involving even a single paisa remain updated in panchayats. This type of treasury or fund management has carved MP's distinct identity in the country.Functioning is the second pillar of panchayats.
A large number of works of land reforms and expansion of area under agriculture have been undertaken in the State with focus on Forest land Rights Act and Employment Guarantee Act. Functioning is the second pillar of panchayats. A large number of works of land reforms and expansion of area under agriculture have been undertaken in the State with focus on Forest land Rights Act and Employment Guarantee Act. Besides, works have also been undertaken under MNREGA for land and water management, minor irrigation, watershed management.
low-income people have been associated with employments that can give them adequate income to run their households. These include animal husbandry, sericulture, social forestry, collection of minor forest produce, food processing etc as per local requirements. Madhya Pradesh has also lived up to the Central Government's norms in construction of toilets, all-weather roads, drinking water arrangements etc. Personnel management is the third pillar of panchayats's success.