MoPR

Citizens’ Charter

Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi
http://panchayat.gov.in

November, 2024

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 MoPR

Citizens’ Charter

INDEX

Sl. No. Contents Page No.

1. Preface 3-4
2. Vision 5
3. Mission 5
4. Index of Services 6 - 11
5. Grievance Redress Mechanism 12
6. List of Stakeholders 13
Indicative Expectations from Service
7. 14
Recipients
8. Conclusion 15
9. List of Abbreviations 16

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 MoPR

Citizens’ Charter
Preface
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) was created as a separate Ministry on 27 th
May 2004. It has the primary objective of overseeing the implementation of Part IX of the
Constitution, implementation of the provisions of the PESA Act in the Fifth Schedule areas
and District Planning Committee. Panchayats were made cornerstone of local self-
governments and peoples’ participation in governance mandated in Part IX of the Constitution
of India. The provisions were extended to the Fifth Schedule areas through the Provisions of
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). The Ministry strives to
reach its goals with regard to improvements in the functioning of Panchayats primarily
through policy interventions, advocacy, capacity building, persuasion through implementation
of scheme, financial support under Central Finance grants etc.

2. ‘Panchayat’ being a State subject, the devolution of powers and authority to

Panchayats has been left to the discretion of States. In terms of Article 243G of the
Constitution the State Legislatures are to consider the 29 matters illustratively set out in the
Eleventh Schedule for devolution to the Panchayats for the planning of economic
development and social justice schemes. The Ministry encourages States to devolve powers
Funds, Functions and Functionaries (3Fs) to PRIs. MoPR also incentivizes States for
devolution of powers.

3. Central Finance Commissions are required to make recommendations to augment the

Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats in the State on the
basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State. Under the
Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC), grant amounting to the tune of Rs. 60,750 crore for
the interim period i.e. financial year 2020-21 was allocated and grants to the tune of Rs.
2,36,805 crore are allocated for the period FY 2021-26 to Panchayats in all the three tiers and
Traditional Local Bodies and Sixth Schedule areas in 28 States. The grants are in two parts
namely, (i) Basic (Untied) Grant [recommended by Ministry of Panchayati Raj], which
constituted 50% for 2020-21 and 40% for 2021-22 to 2025-26; and (ii) Tied Grant
[recommended by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jan Shakti],
which constituted 50% for 2020-21 and 60% for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The basic grants are
Untied and can be used by RLBs for location specific felt needs relating to the twenty-nine
subjects enshrined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other
establishment costs. The expenditure required for auditing of accounts by external agencies
approved by the State Government, however, can also be borne from this grant. The Tied
grants can be used for the basic services of (a) sanitation and maintenance of ODF status, and
this should include management and treatment of household waste, and human excreta and
fecal sludge management in particular (b) supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and

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water recycling.

4. The XVFC Award has created an opportunity for convergent plans at the level and
leadership by Panchayats in providing basic amenities and services to the people. MoPR has
supported States to develop State specific guidelines for Gram Panchayat Development Plans
(GPDPs), which converge all the resources over which the Panchayats have command
including XVFC funds, MGNREGS funds, Swachh Bharat funds etc. The Gram Panchayat
Development Plans are also an opportunity for the community to be engaged in setting local
development agenda and finding local solutions to development issues.

5. The newly launched Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
(RGSA) aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building of
the PRIs and their functionaries. The primary aim of the scheme is to strengthen PRI's for
achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) with the main thrust on convergence with
Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening PRI's in the 117 Aspirational Districts.
The scheme provides for financial support to States towards strengthening of Panchayats on
different activities viz. capacity building and training, training infrastructure, human resource
for training, technical support to Gram Panchayat, Panchayat infrastructure, e-enablement,
Information Education and Communication (IEC) and Project Management Unit (PMU) etc.
as included in their respective Annual Action Plan (AAP).

6. This Ministry has actively promoted the crucial role of the Gram Sabha for the robust
and vibrant functioning of Panchayati Raj system. Ministry has from time to time, issued
comprehensive guidelines, advisories, instructions etc. for the effective functioning of the
Gram Sabha and for holding regular meetings of Gram Sabhas. Article 243A provides that a
Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the
legislature of a State may, by law, provide. The Gram Sabha is the forum that ensures
direct and participative democracy. It offers equal opportunity to all citizens including the
poor, the women and the marginalised to discuss, decide, approve or reject proposals of
the GramPanchayat (the executive) and also assess its performance.

7. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been striving for comprehensive improvement in

functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The Ministry has also been providing
programmatic support for strengthening of PRIs, advocacy support for inter-ministerial and
multi-sectoral coordination, and capacity support for enhancing devolution to PRIs and
finding solutions for local governance and outreach.

8. The Ministry works to fulfill its mandate in various ways. Essentially, it plays a strong
advocacy role. MoPR fosters knowledge creation and sharing so that the issues to be
addressed are clearly articulated, meaningful strategies formulated, and there is sharing within
government as well as with non-government agencies and experts. It also provides technical
assistance and facilities cross-learning across States. In the light of recent changes in policy
and to take advantage of the emerging opportunities, the Ministry has repositioned itself with
basic changes in its mandate.
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 MoPR

Citizens’ Charter

Vision

 To attain decentralized and participatory local self-government through

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Mission

 Empowerment, enablement and accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions

to ensure inclusive development with social justice, and efficient delivery of
services.

 Capacity development through trainings of elected representatives,

implementation of e- Governance, GPDP and incentivisation towards the
strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

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Citizens’ Charter
Index of Services

Services/Transactions/Standards
Sl. Services Contact details of Service/ Process Documents Required Fees
No. the responsible Performance
officer Standards
A. CAPACITY BUILDING - PANCHAYAT SASHAKTIKARAN ABHIYAN / RASHTRIYA GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN
(RGSA)
1. To provide financial support under Shri Vikas Anand 20 days  States send their Complete Proposals Nil
the scheme to the States/UTs (Joint Secretary) proposals to the with the supporting
through designated agencies to Ministry of Panchayati documents such as:
achieve the objectives of E-Mail: js2- Raj for financial  Utilisation
empowerment of the PRIs [email protected] support Certificates of
previous grants,
M. No. 9650967213  These are appraised by  Financial &
the Ministry and Physical
approved by the CEC Achievements, etc.
2. To support the States/UTs Shri Vikas Anand  States/ designated  Written request Nil
/Designated training institutions in (Joint Secretary) training institutions from State
Capacity Building through send formal request to Governments.
E-Mail: js2- the Ministry of  Details regarding
(i) providing Experts/National
[email protected] 10 days Panchayati Raj for budgetary
Resource in various field of nomination of an requirements,
Panchayat functioning as Guest M. No. 9650967213 Expert logistics
Faculty; and As arrangementsfrom
(ii) organising strategic workshops decided  Action is taken for coordinating
for promotion of sharing of by Sr. organising the agencies, and
Officers workshop/activitiesas nomination from
experiences and dissemination of per stipulated timeline. stake holders etc.
best practices across States.

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Services/Transactions/Standards
Sl. Services Contact details Service/ Proces Documents Required Fees
No. of the Performanc s
responsible e
officer Standards
B. INCENTIVIZATION OF PANCHAYATS
3. Awarding the best performing Dr. Bijaya Kumar Annually  Online nominations are  Online nominations Nil
States / Panchayati Raj Institutions Behera, invited each year from and response to the
(PRIs) or similar Local Bodies Economic Adviser the States/UTs. Questionnaires.
mail:
who have done good work in
[email protected]  The various nominees  State /National level
improving delivery of services and Tel:011-23725302 are assessed on the verification reports
public good, on 24th April of each M. No. 9717121418 basis of a set of
year, celebrated as National questionnaires.
Panchayati Raj Day, through e-
Panchayat Puraskar, Deen Dayal  The information given
Upadhyay Panchayat is verified at State level
and National level.
Sashaktikaran Puraskar ,Nanaji
Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav  Final awardees are
Gram Sabha Puraskar and Gram selected by the National
Panchayat Development Plan Screening Committee
Award for Panchayat Awards.

C. e-PANCHAYAT

4. Customization of software Shri A.P. Nagar, As per the  NICSI/NIC to submit  Utilization Nil
applications rolled out under e- Joint Secretary timeline annual project proposal Certificate of
Panchayat to promote internal (Governance agreed with previous grants
Division) the respective  State/UT Govt. to
automation of Panchayats and
E- States. share specific  However, the
electronic delivery of services mail:ap.nagar@go customization/ requirements must
through Panchayats v. in reporting requirements be clearly stated by
Tel:011-23356556 over mail or letter with the States
M.No.9418007426 MoPR/NIC.

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Services/Transactions/Standards
Sl. Services Contact details of Service/ Process Documents Required Fees
No. the responsible Performance
officer Standards
D. FOURTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION (FFC) AWARD

5. The Basic grants under the Ms. Mamta Varma Based on the For release of Basic Grant Transfer Nil
15thFinance Commission are (Joint Request of Grants: Certificate
recommended by Ministry of Secretary)E- the State Grant Transfer certificate (GTC) from the
mail:mamta.ver Government to be submitted by State State
Panchayati Raj in two instalments,
[email protected] Government certifying Government.
in June and Tel. No.011-
October every fiscal year for transfer of the grants to
23753821
onward release by Ministry of thelocalbodieswithin10
Finance. workingdaysforrecommen
dingreleaseforthenextinstal
The Basic grants are untied and can mentofthegrantstoMinistry
be used by RLBs for location- of Finance. Fulfillment of
specific felt needs relating to the
all other conditions as
twenty-nine subjects enshrined in
the Eleventh Schedule of the stipulated under guidelines
Constitution, except for salaries and dated 14.07.2021 issued by
other establishment costs. The Ministry of Finance.
expenditure required for auditing of
accounts by external agencies
approved by the State Government,
however, can also be borne from
this grant.

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Services/Transactions/Standards
Sl. Services Contact Service/ Process Documents Fees
No. details ofthe Performan Required
responsible ce
officer Standards
6. As per Ministry of Finance Ms. Mamta ---  To strengthen e-Governance in Nil Nil
guidelines, a Coordination Varma Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) (Data is to be
Committee under the Chairmanship (Joint across the country, Ministry of entered by the
Secretary)E- Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched State
of Secretary,
mail: eGramSwaraj, a user friendly web- Government)
Panchayati Raj has been mamta.verm based portal. eGramSwaraj aims to
constituted to suggest measures to [email protected] bring in better transparency in the
facilitate the operationalization of all Tel. No. decentralised planning, progress
recommendations of XV-FC relating 011- reporting and work-based accounting.
to Rural Local Bodies; sort out 23753821  Data entry is to be done by the
operational issues that are brought to States/GPs
the notice of the committee by the  In order to ensure better financial
State Government; facilitate inter- management of PRIs for enhancing
ministerial co-ordination at the transparency & accountability in
central level and monitor progress of maintenance of accounts, the
expenditure of grants by local bodies eGramSwaraj has been integrated with
and suggest remedial measures. Public Finance Management System
(PFMS) to make real time payments to
vendors/service providers.
 An application of ‘AuditOnline’ has
been developed for online audits of
Panchayat accounts and their financial
management.
 Geo-photo tagging of assets created
out of FFC funds to be
tracked through eGramSwaraj
Portal.

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 Contact details Service/
Documents
S. No. Services ofthe responsible Performance Process
Required
Fees
officer Standards
E ACTION RESEARCH & RESEARCH STUDIES

7. Conducting action research and Dr. Bijaya Kumar Based on the Themes are identified. Submission of Nil
research studies Behera, needs of the  Proposals are invited through suitable
Economic Adviser Ministry and the biddings. proposal(s) in the
mail: State  Studies are sanctioned and form of Technical
[email protected] Governments agency(s) are selected as per the and Financial Bid(s)
Tel:011-23725302 General Financial
M. No. 9717121418 Rules (GFR).
 Progresses of research are
monitored.

8 Dissemination of the Report Dr. Bijaya Kumar Uploaded on  Reports are uploaded Finalized Nil
Behera, the Ministry’s on the Ministry’s website and are Rep
Economic Adviser website available for all. orts
mail: generated out of the
[email protected] sanctioned
Tel:011-23725302 ac
M.No.9717121418 tion research and
research studies

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 Service/
Contact details of
Performanc
S. No. Services the responsible Process Documents Required Fees
e
officer
Standards
F SURVEY OF VILLAGES AND MAPPING WITH IMPROVISED TECHNOLOGY IN VILLAGE AREAS (SVAMITVA)
Scheme
9. To provide financial assistance to Shri Alok Prem Based on the  States send their Complete Proposals Nil
I. States/UTs, and Survey of Nagar needs and proposals to the with the supporting
India for SVAMITVA (Joint Secretary) requirements Ministry of Panchayati documents such as:
scheme implementation. of Raj for financial  Utilization
II. Development and E-Mail: States/UTs, support regarding IEC Certificates of
monitoring of SVAMITVA [email protected] NIC/NICSI activities and SPMU previous grants. Etc.
dashboard and Gram and Survey setup.
Manchitra application. M. No. 9418007426 of India  Survey of India sends a
demand letter to the
Ministry of Panchayati
Raj for mapping
activities.
 NICSI/NIC to submit
an annual project
proposal.

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Citizens’ Charter

Grievance Redress Mechanism

Name of the Public Grievance Helpline Number Email Mobile

Officer Number
Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, 011- 2372-25308 [email protected] 98119 02004
Joint Secretary

In case of non-compliance of the service standards, the service recipients/stakeholders can

contact the following Public Grievance Officer for redress of their grievance:-

Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary

Room No.205, 9th Floor, Ministry of Panchayati Raj,
Jeevan Bharti Building, Tower II, Jan Path, New Delhi.
T. No: 011- 2372-25308
E-mail: [email protected]

The grievance can also be lodged on-line on the following link:

https://pgportal.gov.in

Escalation of Grievance
In case the grievance is not redressed finally, the same can be taken up at higher level
to thefollowing nodal authority:

Additional Secretary,
Room No. 201, 9th Floor, Jeevan Bharti Building
Tower II, Jan Path, New Delhi.
Tel: 011- 23725301

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Citizens’ Charter

Stakeholders/Clients

1. Ministries of Central Government

2. State Governments
3. Gram, Intermediate (Block) and District Panchayats
4. National level field verification agencies
5. National Informatics Centre (NIC)
6. National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI)
7. Citizens

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Citizens’ Charter

Indicative Expectations from Service Recipients

1. Complete Proposals with the supporting documents such as Utilisation Certificates,

Financial& Physical Achievements, etc. and commitment of matching State share.
2. Upon receipt of written request from State Governments for designation training
institutions in Capacity Building, Budgetary details from coordinating agencies,
logistics arrangement and nomination from stake holders etc.
3. State Governments/PRIs or similar Local Bodies to submit online nominations within
the prescribed timeline for Panchayat Awards.
4. The National Level Field Verification Agencies to submit their report within the
prescribed timeline for Panchayat Awards.
5. State Governments to amend/notify rules, guidelines, etc. to enable Governance at
Panchayatlevel
6. NICSI to timely submit annual proposal and utilization certificate of previous year to
the Ministry
7. NICSI to place Work Orders for manpower, trainers and hardware/software etc. in a
Time- bound manner
8. NIC to resolve all service requests received from States for
modification/customization of software applications in a timely manner after
consultation with concerned States
9. Citizens/applicants to submit RTI requests in a concise and comprehensible manner,
toenable prompt response from Ministry

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Citizens’ Charter
Conclusion

Panchayat system has been an integral part of our culture and civilization. After
independence, the participation of local people for development of rural areas was provided in
Indian Constitution. Through 73rd Amendment Panchayati Raj system has made mandatory
along with basic framework for the system.

Decentralization is key to promote good governance and to improve quality and reach of
public service delivery at the grassroots. It also leads to enhanced transparency and
accountability. Participatory local budgeting, which involves transfer of decision-making powers
related to local budget allocation from public administrators to local governments and citizens,
tends to accelerate further decentralization. Participatory budgeting, bestows opportunity to
citizens to deliberate over part of the resource allocation in their communities, opening up
possibilities of greater matching of resources with local needs.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been striving for comprehensive improvement in

functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). With the new initiatives and revamping of
ongoing programmes, the Ministry will be able to improve the functioning of PRIs to develop
rural India and make village Smart and developed, leading to New India.

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Citizens’ Charter
List of Abbreviations

3Fs Funds, Functions and Functionaries

AAP Annual Action Plan
CEC Central Executive Committee
XVFC Fifteenth Finance Commission
GoI Government of India
GP Gram Panchayat
GPDP Gram Panchayat Development Plan
IEC Information Education and Communication
MIS Management Information System
MGNREGS Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
SchemeMoPR Ministry of Panchayati Raj
NIC National Informatics Centre
NICSI National Informatics Centre Services Inc.
PESA Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
PMU Project Management Unit
PR Panchayati Raj
PRI Panchayati Raj Institution
RGPSA Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan
RGSA Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
RTI Right to Information Act
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
UC Utilisation Certificate
UT Union Territory

***

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