Not to be published or broadcast

on or before 07 December, 2009 

A new scheme 'Net Fresh Additional Resource Mobilisation' has been launched for strengthening the Gram Panchayats and upgrade the skill and Capacity Building of functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. An outlay of Rs.10 crore has been made for this scheme during the current financial year.

Under this scheme, for every additional rupee of Net Additional Resource Mobilisation, the concerned panchayat is entitled to get equal the amount out of this incentive fund. In addition to this, incentive would also be given for raising resources for sanitation, liquid and solid waste management and street lighting.

The scheme provides that every gram panchayat which collects the amount for this purpose would be provided double the amount raised by it as an incentive. This scheme has not only proved a great boon in generating the additional sources of income but is also providing the basic infrastructure at village level.

Women empowerment is the top priority of present state government and Rs.11.96 lacs are being spent under Mahila Shakti Abhiyan. A core committee of elected women representatives has been constituted under this. To ensure abhiyan's success, a Support Cell has been constituted in the Panchayati Raj Training Institute, Mashobra. In the year 2008 two state level workshops and divisional level workshops at Mandi, Shimla and Kangra were organised under the abhiyan to provide training to women PRI functionaries.

The state government has provided adequate funds to upgrade the Panchayati Raj Training Institute building at Baijnath in district Kangra at the cost of Rs.6.44 crore and Rs.1.78 crore were being spent this year.

In the year 2007-08, under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) 2613 schemes were completed in Chamba and Sirmour districts and 1432 schemes were being executed in this financial year by  incurring expenditure of Rs.28.50 crore.

The state government has decided to provide every panchayat with a Community Centre/ Panchayat Ghar and a sum of Rs.809.20 lacs was approved for this purpose. For the construction of each Community Centre/ panchayat Ghar, Rs.3.40 lacs would be spent. State government has already released Rs.499.80 lacs for the construction of 283 new panchayat ghars and a provision of Rs.7.30 crore has been made for up-gradation of 730 panchayat ghars.

To ensure smooth functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions, as being the grass root institutions of democratic set-up, the state government has decided to post either a Panchayat Sahayak or Panchayat Secretary in every gram panchayat. 225 new posts of Panchayat Sahayaks have been created, out of which 95 Panchayat Sahayaks have been appointed and the process for filling up remaining posts is underway. The state government was also providing ample promotional avenues to Panchayat Sahayaks and it has been decided to promote those Panchayat Sahayaks who had completed 8 years of satisfactory service.

The state government has created 40 posts of Junior Engineers on contract basis. Services of 21contractual Junior Engineers appointed by the Panchayat Samitis, completing 8 years of service were regularized under Zila Parishad Cadre. 847 Takniki Sahayaks were also appointed in the gram panchayats for providing technical guidance and for evaluating and monitoring the works undertaken by the PRIs amounting between Rs.50, 000 to Rs.1.50 lacs.

Besides providing 50 percent reservation to women in PRIs and lodging facility in government rest houses to office bearers of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samitis while on official tour, the state government has decided to provide grant-in-aid to PRIs to meet out the expenditure on Travelling and Daily Allowances of elected representatives while on official tour. An outlay of Rs.50 lacs has been made for this purpose during the financial year 2009-10.