From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 23: The Basavaraj Bommai government’s ambitious Amrutha Grama Seva Yojane for providing online services to the citizens at the grama panchayat level will be launched on a trial basis in five districts from the next Republic Day on January 26.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was addressing he inaugural function of Amrutha Grama Panchayath programme held at Banquet hall, Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.
The scheme would be implemented with the objective of ensuring Grama Panchayats should be centers of providing citizen services and the Government facilities should be delivered at doorsteps and directed officers to make preparations for the implementation of this scheme, Bommai said.
“Democracy can succeed with people’s participation. Unfortunately we have turned people into beneficiaries. Instead we need to encourage their participation in Governance. In this wake, planning should be done at grassroot level and funds must be provided by the Government,’’ he said.
Under Amrutha Grama Panchayath Scheme, overall development of 750 Gram Panchayats are envisaged and on an average Rs 3 crore is being provided to each Panchayat amounting to Rs 2300 crore.
An incentive of Rs 25 lakh is being provided to each Panchayat completing the programme by March 31, 2022, he said.
If all Gram Panchayats succeed in meeting the deadline, he said 1500 Panchayats would be selected for the scheme for next year.
For successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, the flagship programme of Government of India to ensure 100% coverage of functional household tap connection in rural areas, State Government has released Rs 2,000 crore recently, he said.
The quality of rural life will enhance, when there is financial, social, educational development in rural areas. Financial activities must increase in rural areas which is mainly possible through self-help groups (SHGs) and Cooperative societies.
Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Giriraj Raj Singh appreciated the functioning of Panchayat Raj Institutions in the State.
He said that all Gram Panchayats must be connected digitally by 2024 and directed State Government to implement the same on priority
Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is providing more funds for Rural Development.
Under the 12th and 13th Finance Commission awards, Rs 3988 crore was released for Karnataka. During 14th and15th Finance Commission the same has been increased to Rs. 9626 crore, which is more than 2.5 times.
Responding to the appeal by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa, he promised to examine the matter of enhancing the target under MGNREGA and do the needful.
Ministers Dr C.N. Ashwathnarayan, S T Somashekhar, N Munirathna, B C Nagesh, MLA Rizwan Arshad, Additional Chief Secretary Vanditha Sharma, L K Ateeq and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.