Government working to empower panchayats, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said his government is allocating an unprecedented Rs 2.25 Lakh Crore to Panchayats across the country as part of efforts to further empower them through modern governance methods like digitisation and online functioning. Along with these measures, there is also the expectation that these local bodies will become more transparent and accountable in the coming days, he said.

Addressing panchayats nation-wide through video-conferencing on Panchayati Raj Day, Modi spoke on the various steps taken to enhance the role of these rural local bodies. This includes new rights, connectivity through fibre-net, payment of funds through online methods, involvement in the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission for providing clean drinking water by tap to every household and so on.

The movement to provide pukka village to every poor person or rural employment schemes are also being run through Panchayats. The Prime Minister referred to the growing financial autonomy of the Panchayats, saying the Centre has allocated an unprecedented Rs 2.25 lakh crore to them. “This also leads to higher expectation of transparency in accounts. The Panchayati Raj Ministry has made arrangements of online payment through ‘e-Gram Swaraj’. Now all payments will be through the Public Finance Management System (PFMS). Similarly, online audits will ensure transparency,” Modi said.