412 new gram panchayats formed in Himachal for rural development

To ensure better governance in rural areas, the Himachal 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.

In last four years, Rs. 429 crore have been provided for gram panchayats under the recommendations of State Finance Commission.  In the year 2021-22 a provision of Rs. 248 crore was made for development of rural areas.

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 5,124 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.

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.