Context:

The restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is being implemented with all States/UTs with the primary aim of strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals with main thrust on convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions in 117 Aspirational districts.

Training for the Elected Representatives of Panchayat, within six months of their election and refresher trainings within 2 years.

Use of e-governance and technology driven solutions at Panchayat level will be increased to attain administrative efficiency, improved service delivery, and greater accountability.

About Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan:

• The Finance Minister, in his budget speech for 2016-17, announced the launch of new restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), for developing and strengthening the capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
• The scheme launched for rural local governance to become more responsive towards local development needs, preparing the participatory plans that leverage technology, efficient and optimum utilization of available resources for realizing sustainable solutions to local problems linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The scheme aims at making rural local bodies self-sustainable, financially stable and more efficient. 
• It seeks to address critical gaps that hinder the success of Panchayats by enhancing their capacities and effectiveness, and promote devolution of powers and responsibilities. 
• This scheme will extend to all States and UTs of the country and will also include institutions of rural local government in non-Part IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist.
• The approved scheme of RGSA will help more than 2.55 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to develop governance capabilities to deliver on SDGs through inclusive local governance with focus on optimum utilisation of available resources.
• In his Budget Speech for 2017-18, the Finance Minister announced to undertake a Mission Antyodaya to bring one crore households out of poverty to make 50,000 Gram Panchayats poverty free. Accordingly, convergent action with Mission Antyodaya has been integrated into this scheme. 13.218

History

The national level plan for improving the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is mapped out in the Roadmap for Panchayati Raj (2011–2017). The Roadmap logically delineates the issues and specific action plans within the larger governance framework for creating an effective Panchayati Raj structure. It highlights key aspects of empowerment, enablement and accountability of the PRIs for better governance and faster development, includes devolution of functions, funds and functionaries as envisaged in the Constitution, Capacity Building of the Panchayats and Functionaries, decentralized planning, effective implementation of Panchayats (Extention to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), empowered elected village councils in the Sixth Scheduled Areas and changes in the constitutional and legal framework

Key features 

• The scheme has programmatic focus for phased saturation mode on ensuring basic orientation training for the Elected Representatives of Panchayats, within six months of their election and refresher trainings within 2 years. 
• RGSA will have thrust for SHG-PRI convergence to ensure effective community mobilisation and greater public ownership of flagship programs of the Govt. 
• Use of e-governance and technology driven solutions at Panchayat level will be increased to attain administrative efficiency, improved service delivery, and greater accountability.

Objectives of the campaign

The campaign is undertaken under the name of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas”.

The objective of the campaign is to promote social harmony, spread awareness about pro-poor initiatives of government, reach out to poor households to enroll them as also to obtain their feedback on various welfare programmes.

The scheme consists of Central and State Components.

Central component;

• National level activities viz. National Plan for Technical Assistance (NPTA) including NPMU, collaboration with academic institutions/ institutions of excellence including NIRD&PR, Hyderabad for various activities of CB&T for PRIs 
• Mission Mode Project (MMP) on e-Panchayat and 
• Incentivization of Panchayats

State components

The State component relates to activities to be undertaken by State Governments for CB&T and other activities for strengthening of Panchayats viz 

• Capacity Building & Training
• Training infrastructure and HR support for training
• Strengthening of Gram Sabhas in PESA areas
• Distance Learning Facility via SATCOM
• Support for Innovations
• Technical support to PRIs
• Financial Data and Analysis Cell
• Panchayat Buildings, e-enablement of Panchayats
• Project-based funding for economic development and income enhancement
• IEC and PMU. 

Fund sharing 

The sharing pattern for the State component is in the ratio of 60:40 except NE and Hilly States where Central and State sharing is in the ratio of 90:10. For all UTs, Central share is 100%.

Activities to be taken up

The campaign is being held through a partnership of beneficiaries, 33 lakh elected PRIs members, 5 crore women SHG members, MLAs and MPs to achieve goals. The Central/State and Local Governments are also partners in progress.

As a special endeavour during the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, saturation of eligible households/persons would be made under seven flagship pro-poor programmes in 21,058 identified villages covering 530 districts (except Karnataka, West Bengal where Election Code of Conduct is in place). The identified schemes are as follows.

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
• Saubhagya
• Ujala scheme
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and
• Mission Indradhanush.

The key principles of SDGs are:-

1. leaving no one behind,
2. reaching the farthest first and universal coverage,
3. along with gender equality will be embedded in the design of all capacity building interventions including trainings,
4. Training modules and materials.
5. Priority will be given to subjects of national importance that affects the excluded groups the most,
6. poverty, primary health services, nutrition, immunization, sanitation, education, water conservation, digital transactions etc.
7. A Committee under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman-NITI Aayog is constituted to restructure the existing scheme as Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

Mains Question to be asked on this topic

Q.) What is Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan? How it’ll help in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system across the country? (GS-II)

Q.) Discuss the role of the recently launched Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system across the country. (GS – II)

Source: PIB