First E-Panchayat in the country

For the first time in the country, an e-panchayat or electronic knowledge based panchayat has been introduced in Andhra Pradesh by the National Informatics centre as a pilot in Ramchandrapuram Gram panchayat in Medak District Near Hyderabad. All functions of this panchayat are computerized and web enabled. Birth and death registrations, house tax assessment and collection, trade licenses, old age pensions, works monitoring, financial accounting, general administration, etc. are being executed electronically. Additional services such as information about market prices and agricultural extension advice are also being provided to citizens of the village from the e-panchayat. This project will be extended to all villages in the state in phased manner.

First all women panchayat in Haryana

Neemkheda village in Mewat district of Haryana has become the first in the state to elect an all women gram panchayat. The panchayat had been represented by men since last 17 years.

The Village predominantly comprising the Meo community has about 3000 people. Ost families have seven to eight children. There is a primary school, but no teacher. Girls are kept away from education and sent to work in farms or to graze cattle.

Asubi Begam, 60, whose husband is a former sarpanch, is the new president of the panchayat. There are nine posts for panches. The whole team is enthusiastic about its new role.

Group of ministers to monitor the progress of Panchayati Raj

The Prime Minister has approved for Panchayati Raj Ministr’s proposal to set up a group of ministers (GoM) to monitor the progress of Panchayati aj in the country. Ministers of Human Resource development, Agriculture and Consumer affairs, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Finance, Tribal Affairs, Rural development and environment and forests are likely to be inducted in the group. Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar will chair it. The terms of reference of the GoM include the implementation of recommendation of financial devolution, performance and accountability of Panchayats, implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled areas) Act and gender empowerment through panchayat.

Twenty departments handed over to panchayats – Tripura

Tripura has become the first state in the North eastern region of the country to hand over 20 administrative departments to the panchayats.

Forty-Seven Departments to be transferred to panchayats – Uttaranchal

The Chief Minister announced that as many as 47 departments would be transferred to panchayts shortly. He also stated that DRDAs would be merged Zila Panchayats by the end of the current financial year, 2005-06.

Rural garbage disposal scheme – Goa

Panchayati Raj Minister Subash Shirodkar, on 18 th August, announced a rural garbage disposal scheme for gram panchayats. Initially, the scheme would be implemented in 100 Panchayati Raj institutions. Under the scheme, the garbage, the garbage would be segregated at the household level and the government will provide compactors to village panchayats for lifting it.

Panchayat Elections in November - Jammu and Kashmir

Panchayat elections will be held in the state in November, it was announced by rural development Minister Peerzada Mohamad Sayed. Before holding the lections we will pass a panchayat bill in the forthcoming session in the assembly in October, he said. This time, the Govt. will undertake delimitation of panchayats on the basis of population and topography to ensure uniform development.

Panchayat Elections in state were last held in 2001, after gap of 23 years. However, more than half the seats in the valley remained vacant.

Suvarna Jala Yojna for Schools – Karnataka

As part of the Karnataka state golden jubilee yaer celebrations, the state government will implement the Suvarna Jala Yojna’ to provide drinking water in 23,683 schools. The centre has provided Rs. 7735 lakh for the scheme, of which Rs. 1776 lakh has been released to all Zilla panchayats for 2005-2006. The grant can be use by the Gram panchayats with approval of the concerned Zilla panchayat.

Chief Minister Presents Panchayat Shree Awards – Sikkim

Chief Minster Pawan Chamling presented Panchayat Shree awards to eight panchayat members in Gangtok. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the need for greater accountability in the panchayat system.

First Fully Computerized Block – West Bengal

Mahishadal Block of Haldia sub-division has become the first fully computerized block in the state. The two software programmes – The integrated fund management system and Gram Panchayat management system, which are being used at the panchayat samiti and gram panchayat levels respectively, were developed by the Panchayat and Rural Development department. The process of computerization begin in April and in three months, the Integrated Fund Management System was installed in all computers of 11 Gram Panchayts of Mahishadal block. The panchayat secretaries are also trained on the software.

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