Panchayat offices in state to be computerized
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 31, 2011:
Panchayat Ghars (office of gram panchayats) in Manipur will be computerized under the country's flagship programme, Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana, with the objective of imparting computer knowledge to the villagers.
An official source from the state Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said that the department had selected 103 panchayat ghar for upgrading with computer facilities and the same facility will be provided to another 62 ghars which the construction is under progress.
The computerization of the panchayat ghars was to take up under the e-governance and with the objective of connecting all the panchayats through an internet networking system.
The work is to be taken up by RD & PR Department with the funds to be released from the 13th Finance Commission during the period from 2010-11 and 20014-2015.Rs 11.21 crore have been earmarked for taking up the programme, the source said.
The first installment of the project, that is Rs 560.45 lakh, has been released by the Central government during the fiscal year 2010-11.The fund will be utilized in rejuvenating the existing panchayat ghars, the source said.
The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for the non-BRGF districts.
The scheme focuses primarily on providing financial assistance to the States and UTs for Training & Capacity Building of elected representatives (ERs) and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) so that they can perform the functions devolved upon them and the schemes entrusted to them effectively, besides a small component for infrastructure development.
Under the Infrastructure Development component, assistance is provided for Satellite based training infrastructure for Distance Learning for the ERs and Functionaries of the PRIs and, in respect of the Hilly States and States in the North Eastern Region, for capital expenditure on establishment of Panchayat Resource Centres, Panchayat Bhawans at Block and Gram Panchayat levels.
The scheme has two components of Training & Capacity Building and Infrastructure Development.
Under the component of Training & Capacity Building, financial assistance is provided to the States and UTs for Training of elected representatives (ERs) and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs as well as for setting up of Satellite and SWAN based training infrastructure for Distance Learning for the ERs and Functionaries of the PRIs.
Under the component of Infrastructure Development, assistance is provided for establishment of Panchayat Resource Centres, Panchayat Bhawans at Block and Gram Panchayat levels.