Continuation of revamped Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired approved continuation.
• It Will help 2.78 lakh Rural Local Bodies to achieve SDG goals

Background

RGSA was restructured and announced in 2016-17 for developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 21.04.2018 for implementation from Financial Year 2018-19 to 2021-22.
• Third party evaluation of RGSA undertaken during 2021-22.
• The proposal for continuation of revamped RGSA was prepared for implementation during the period from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026.

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs.5911 crore with the Central Share of Rs.3700 crore and that of State Share of Rs.2211 crore.

• Around 60 lakh Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of Rural Local Bodies including Traditional Bodies across the country will be direct beneficiaries of the scheme.
• Primary aim: Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
• Main thrust: Convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions in 117 Aspirational districts.

Employment Generation Potential

• It will help more than 2.78 lakh Rural Local Bodies including Traditional Bodies across the country.
• It will develop governance capabilities to deliver on SDGs through inclusive local governance with focus on optimum utilization of available resources.
• Priority will be given to subjects of national importance principally under themes, such as:

• Poverty free and enhanced livelihood in villages,
• Healthy Village,
• Child Friendly Village,
• Water Sufficient Village,
• Clean and Green Village,
• Self-Sufficient Infrastructure in Village,
• Socially Secured Village,
• Village with Good Governance,
• Engendered Development in Village.

• Strengthening Panchayats will promote equity and inclusiveness, along with Social Justice and economic development of the community.
• Increased use of e-governance by PRIs will help achieve improved service delivery and transparency.
• The scheme will strengthen Gram Sabhas to function as effective institutions with social inclusion of citizens particularly the vulnerable groups.
• It will establish the institutional structure for capacity building of PRIs at the national, state and district level with adequate human resources and infrastructure.
• Panchayats will be strengthened through incentivisation on the basis of nationally important criteria to recognise roles of Panchayats in attainment of SDGs and to inculcate spirit of healthy competition.

Features of the scheme

• The revamped RGSA will comprise Central and State components.
• The Central Components of the scheme will be fully funded by the Government of India.
• The funding pattern for State Components will be in the ratio of 60:40 among Centre and States respectively, except NE, Hilly States and Union Territory (UT) of J&K.
• In these States and UTs, Central and State share will be 90:10.
• For other UTs, the Central share will be 100%.

Central and State components

• Central Component : National Level activities such as -
  • National Plan of Technical Assistance,
  • Mission Mode project on e-Panchayat,
  • Incentivization of Panchayats,
  • Action Research & Media.
• State component :
  • Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs),
  • Institutional support for CB&T,
  • Distance learning Facility,
  • Support for construction of Gram Panchayat (GP) Bhawan,
  • Co-location of Common Service Centers (CSCs) in GP Bhawans and computer for GPs with special focus on NE States,
  • Special Support for strengthening Gram Sabhas in PESA Areas,
  • Support for innovation,
  • Support for Economic Development & Income Enhancement.

Localization of SDGs

• It will be done with nine themes, which are:
  • Poverty free and enhanced livelihood in villages,
  • Healthy Village,
  • Child Friendly Village,
  • Water Sufficient Village,
  • Clean and Green Village,
  • Self-Sufficient Infrastructure in Village,
  • Socially Secured Village,
  • Village with Good Governance,
  • Engendered Development in Village.

Implementation strategy and targets

• The Central Government and the State Governments will take action for completing the activities approved for their respective roles.
• The State Government will formulate their Annual Action Plans for seeking assistance from the Central Government as per their priorities and requirements.
• The scheme will be implemented in a demand driven mode.

States/districts covered

• This scheme will extend to all States and UTs of the country.
• It will also include institutions of rural local government in non-Part IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist.

Details and progress of scheme

• An amount of Rs.2364.13 crore was released to the States/ UTs/ Panchayats and other implementing agencies from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
• Around 1.36 crore Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of PRIs received various and multiple Trainings under the scheme during 2018-19 to 2021-22.

Exam Track

Prelims Takeaway

• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
• Features of the scheme

Mains Takeaway

Q. What are various components of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)? How it will bolster the cooperation and strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions.