RGSA: Only 5 services being delivered to gram panchayats

Jaipur: Under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) implemented since 2022-23 and run by the ministry of rural development and panchayati raj department, 100% of the panchayats (11,248) in Rajasthan have adopted their own citizens’ charter for delivery of services. However, so far, only five government services are being delivered/delivered online in the panchayats of the state, a Lok Sabha reply has revealed. Minister of state for panchayati raj Kapil Moreshwar Patil informed this while replying to a question in Lok Sabha on December 19. “The ministry is encouraging the panchayats to adopt their own Citizens’ Charter for successful delivery of services for which the ministry has formulated the model charter and shared with the States. Adoption of such Citizens’ Charter by states is being monitored through a dedicated portal. So far, Citizens’ Charters have been uploaded by 2.15 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) and offer 954 services,” the reply stated. “The revamped RGSA, being implemented since 2022-23, is demand driven in nature. Under the scheme, the funding pattern for state components is in the ratio of 60:40 among Centre and state, except northeast, hilly states, and UT of Jammu & Kashmir where central and state share is in the ratio of 90:10. For the union territories, central Share is 100%,” it added.Funds were released to states/union territories based on approved plans, submission of requisite documents viz. utilization certificate, auditor’s report etc. and compliance of other directions as and when issued by government of India, the reply stated. “Bharat Net project is being implemented in a phased manner by the department of telecommunications to provide broadband connectivity to all the gram panchayats and equivalent in the country,” he added.