INVC,,
Delhi,,
The National Panchayati Raj Diwas was commemorated today with a coll to work collectively and sincerely in empowering the Panchati Raj Institituons in the country. On ths occation Union Minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh gave away the Rashtryira Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar 2011, e Panchayat Puraskar 2011 and the prizes for The National Level Winners o Drawing Rainting and Essay Competitions held during The “year of the Gram Sabha “ ( 2nd October 2009-2nd October 2011) .
Congratulating the award winners on the occasion Shri Deshmukh said the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993 has institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the Village, Intermediate and District levels Panchayats. The impact of the 73rd Amendment in rural India is very much visible as it has changed power equations significantly. Accordingly, Government of India, in consultation with the States, decided to celebrate 24th April as National Panchayat Day. He said this year, the theme of the event is “Roadmap for the Panchayati Raj(2011-16): A National Perspective” and “Positioning the Gram Sabhas at the core of Panchayati Raj for true self-governance and ensuring transparency and accountability of the Gram Panchayats” .
The Minister said the Panchayati Raj Ministry Ministry has, in consultation with the States and Union Ministries finalized the Roadmap for strengthening of the Panchayati Raj for the next five year, to almost coincide with the 12th Five Year Plan and hoped that the Roadmap would provide effective decentralization agenda to the States and Union Ministries. Roadmap sets out strategies and action plan for real devolution of functions and funds, efficient and accountable Panchayats and true self-governance. He said the Information Technology is a necessary tool for transparency, disclosure of information and social audit, efficient delivery of services, improving internal management of Panchayats, procurement etc. And the first ever e-Panchayat Puraskar are being given to those states who have implemented Model Accounting System for the Panchayats and PRIASoft well he hoped that this award will motivate other states to adopt PRIASoft urgently which is a highly user-friendly accounting software and would put daily receipt and expenditure of the Panchayats on line.
Shri Deshmukh said the most important aspect of self-governance is devolution of Functions, Funds and Functionaries to the Panchayats. It is necessary for the states to expedite devolution of 3 Fs. The Union Government also has a critical role in the devolution of 3Fs because it makes increasingly large fiscal transfers to the States in the functional domain of the PRIs, mainly through CSSs and ACAs.
