Page 274 - PDI Vol 2

In development administration, the benefits of development cannot reach the people for whom such benefits are targeted without
good governance. Therefore, Good Governance is the pre-condition for development. The Gram Panchayat is the only organisation
at the lowest level, where the people can directly contact with the people’s ERs, the Local-self Government, to inform their problems
and demands and seek for remedy. The Village Panchayat, as people’s organisation can also make direct contact with the people to
know the problems and demand of the people and take necessary action for necessary redressal from the Panchayat level or through
other Government Departments and organisations. As the third tier of government and with the 29 subjects listed for action and
devolution to the PRIs, developing strong Panchayati Raj Institutions is essential to improve good governance and delivery of
services which involves redistribution of power, institution building and development process that improve accountability to the
people. Development is looked upon as holistic in nature, which creates an environment to foster a long, healthy, creative life among
people and make the governance processes which are locally relevant, democratic, participative and responsive. Therefore, all the
elected members and the employees of the Village Panchayat should be sensitized properly in this regard and awareness generation
among the people of the locality should be made.

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a vital role in the delivery of various services and basic amenities to the citizens residing in
vast rural landscape of the country. It is of utmost importance that the Panchayats are well equipped with the necessary infrastructure
and have adequately trained manpower. In order to deliver various services rendered by PRIs, Central Finance Commissions
mandated Grants are continuously granted by the Central Government to the PRIs including Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) across
the country. Hence, it becomes necessary that the PRIs/TLBs ensure transparency in utilization of public money for developmental
activities in rural areas and to ensure accountability in their overall functioning. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been
continuously leveraging Digital Technology to deliver good governance in rural areas and bring about transparency and
accountability in the Panchayat functioning; and is working to enhance end-to-end experience of delivering public services. For
Panchayats to be able to perform effectively, efficiently, and transparently in discharging the mandated activities for delivery of
basic services, amenities and development in rural areas; there is a strong need for adopting Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in order to build a “Digitally Inclusive Society” whereby the rural populace can leverage the benefits from new
technologies for getting such services/facilities/amenities provided by PRIs, can access and share data/information easily and are
able to actively participate in the decision-making process for all developmental activities.

To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has
launched eGramSwaraj, a user-friendly web-based portal and gram
Manchitra, providing geo-tagged assets created under select
schemes. e-GramSwaraj and gram Manchitra aim to bring better
transparency in decentralized planning, progress reporting and
work-based accounting.

MoPR had developed an interface, called the eGramSwaraj – PFMS Interface by integrating the accounting module of eGramSwaraj
with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), whereby Panchayats are able to make real time payments to the service
providers / vendors for the developmental works carried out in respective Panchayats. This integration ensures a sound financial
management system in the Panchayats thereby fostering increased accountability and transparency.

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Theme 8: Village with Good Governance