SHIMLA: The state government has allocated Rs  429 crore for gram panchayats under the recommendations of State Finance Commission for the last four years.  In the year 2021-22 a provision of Rs. 248 crore was made for development of rural areas. 

According to the state spokesperson, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are the back bone of rural development. To ensure better governance in rural areas, the state government is laying emphasis on strengthening the Panchayati Raj System. For the holistic development of rural areas the state government has constituted 412 new gram panchayats. With creation of these panchayats, the Himachal government aims to facilitate the people and also ensure rapid development of the rural areas.

In the year 2018-19, Rs. 850.17 crore were sanctioned under 14^th Finance Commission to several gram panchayats for various development works out of which about Rs. 700 crore have been spent. In the year 2020-21 under 15^th Finance Commission, the Centre government provided Rs. 429 crore for panchayats and in the year 2021-22 a provision of Rs. 317 crore was made for developmental works in panchayats.

District Resource Centres were being set-up in district Sirmaur with an expenditure of Rs. 5.65 crore, in district Kinnaur with an expenditure of Rs. 3.65 crore and in district Una with an expenditure of Rs. 5.50 crore.

The state government has released Rs. 7 crore for upgradation and restoration of Gram Panchayat buildings and work on 69 panchayat buildings have been completed at an expense of Rs. 5.71 crore. Rs. 27.44 crore has been released for the construction of Lok Sewa Kendra in gram panchayat out of which about Rs. 16.45 crore have been spent to facilitate the people.

The state government has released Rs. 5.38 crore for training of elected representatives and officials of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rs. 2.44 crore have been spent on the training of 5124 participants. The Centre government also approved Rs. 164.43 crore for various schemes under which training of representatives and officials of Panchayati Raj Institutions, District Panchayat Resource Centres, 389 panchayat buildings, construction of 1924 Common Service Centre and purchase of computer system in newly constituted gram panchayats are included.

For construction, renovation and repair of Community centres, Rs. 15.69 crore have been released to 273 panchayats in the Financial Year 2018-19, Rs. 17.06 crore for 252 gram panchayats in the year 2019-20, Rs. 22.79 crore for 230 gram panchayats in the year 2020-21 and Rs. 22.50 crore for 148 gram panchayats in the year 2021-22.

In order to keep pace with the digital India, the state government is laying emphasis on digitisation of panchayats. Taking step forward in this direction, pariwar register in gram panchayats have been made online from 1^st April, 2018 and online copy of pariwar register was being provided to the people. The preparation of schemes and audit works in gram panchayats of the state were being done through various softwares. With an expenditure of Rs. 2 crore, 412 new gram panchayats have been linked with e-panchayats.