Devolution of Functionaries to Local Government

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
ABSTRACT

Strengthening of Gram Panchayat – Implementation of Village Development Plan and Agenda - Role of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat in the context of Integrated Development of Village – Orders - Issued.

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PANCHAYAT RAJ &RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MANDAL.I) DEPARTMENT

G.O.Ms.No. 10

Date: 18.01.2013

Read:

G.O.Ms.No.791, GA (Gen/Leg. Co.ordn.) Dept. dt.7.11.2013.

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ORDER:

Gram Swaraj was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and formed the bedrock of political ideology during the freedom struggle. In order to translate this dream into reality and to usher in democratic decentralisation, the Constitution of India was amended through 73rd Amendment Act, thereby according constitutional status to the Panchayat Raj Institutions. The central objective of this path-breaking initiative is to accelerate physical and socioeconomic development of rural areas within a participatory governance framework. It is envisaged that the Panchayat Raj Institutions act as a vibrant third tier of government in rural areas, preparing and implementing plans for economic development and social justice.

2. Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha are two main instruments of selfgovernance at the village level. Both these institutions are headed by Gram Sarpanch. Thus, the Sarpanch has to lplay a pivotal role in actualizing the goals of democratic decentralisation to the grassroots level as enshrined in the Constitution of India. He/she should articulate the perceptions about selfgovernance of the Village and ensure the effective participation of Members of Gram Panchayat and villagers in the decision-making processes relating to village development, particularly planning, administration, and delivery of public services. The Sarpanch needs to instil the pride of MANA VURU (Our Village) among the villagers and act as a Change Agent for Village Transformation.

3. The Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India have introduced Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA), a new scheme aimed at strengthening the Panchayat Raj System in the country, especially Gram Panchayats. As part of this exercise, orders have been issued in the G.O. read above wherein 32 village level government functionaries responsible for 29 different functions are made accountable to Gram Sabhas. These 32 functionaries need to work closely with the Gram Sarpanch if the Gram Panchayat has to transform into a platform of convergence, accountability and transparency for effective implementation of flagship programmes of the Government. He/she is expected to act as a catalyst for the integrated development of the Village with clearly defined goals and targets in respect of basic minimum services. He should specifically focus on:

• Micro planning and prioritization of needs in the Village
• Convergence of funds and functionaries of all Government schemes at the village level to achieve human development goals.

4. Gram Panchayat as a unit of self-governance at village level and as a platform to articulate the needs and aspirations of people within its jurisdiction is expected to champion the responsibility to promote economic development and social justice. This is possible only when all field level functionaries and the Committees established by various Government departments at the village level work closely with the Sarpanch and Members of Gram Panchayat to achieve the targets set for development of village in a time-bound manner. The Government feels that entrusting certain 'leadership' and 'coordination'

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functions to Sarpanch would help in strengthening the Gram Panchayat Administration and promoting convergence of various Government schemes in the field. Further, the Sarpanches must strive to achieve physical and socioeconomic development targets under various schemes. The best-performing Gram Panchayats, under the leadership of Sarpanches will be identified in a transparent manner, incentivized for their good work and awarded.

5. In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 268 read with Sections 45 and 46 of A.P.P.R Act 1994 and in pursuance of the orders issued on devolution of powers to Panchayat Raj Institutions, the Government hereby order that the following important functions be discharged/coordinated by the Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat (25-Point Agenda) besides other functions stipulated in APPR Act 1994.

Twenty-five Points Village Development Agenda for Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat

S.No	Functions	Village level functionary responsible	Mandal level functionary responsible	Provision as per APPR Act 1994
I. Effective Gram Panchyat Administration
1.	Regular conduct of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat meetings	Pt. Sect	E.O.PR&RD	Sec 6 and Sec 37
2.	100% obilization on of G.P. accounts and other office records	Pt. Sect	E.O.PR&RD	Sec 266
3.	100% levy and collection of taxes, charges, fees and other non-tax resources obilizati to Gram Panchayat/Adoption of innovative measures for additional resource obilization within GP	Pt. Sect	E.O.PR&RD	Sec 60
4.	100% registration of births & deaths	Pt.Secy	E.O.PR&RD	Sec 45
5.	Preparation and implementation of Village Development Plan including Village Spatial Plan	Pt.Secy	E.O.PR&RD	Sec 45
II. Provision of Civic Amenities
6.	100% access to safe and clean drinking water to all households	Pt. Sect	A.E.E (RWS) E.O.PR&RD	Sec.45
7.	100% coverage underg functional Individual Sanitary Latrines (ISL) &Open Defecation-free Village	Pt. Sect	A.E.E (RWS) E.O.PR&RD	Sec.45
8.	100% cleaning of all drains & streets and other public places and establishing a sanitary system of waste disposal	Pt. Sect	A.E.E (RWS) E.O.PR&RD	Sec.45
9.	Provision of 100% energy-efficient Street Lighting in GP and ensuring its daily functioning	Pt. Sect	A.E.E (PR) E.O.PR&RD	Sec.45
10.	Effective maintenance of internal roads, buildings, play grounds (Village Playfield), parks, markets, etc	Pt. Sect	A.E.E (PR) E.O.PR&RD	Sec.45

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S.No	Functions	Village level functionary responsible	Mandal level functionary responsible	Provision as per APPR Act 1994
III. Health & Nutrition
11.	100% registration of pregnant women and their enrolment in AWCs	ANM AWW	PHC doctor ICDS supervisor	Sec.46
12	100% institutional delivery	ANM	PHC doctor ICDS supervisor	Sec.46
13.	100% immunization of children 0-5 years	ANM	PHC doctor ICDS supervisor	Sec.46
14.	100% enrolment of lactating mothers and children in the age group 6 months – 5 years in AWC and coverage under supplementary nutrition/ quality foods programme	ANM AWW	PHC doctor ICDS supervisor	Sec.46
15	100% coverage of eligible couples with Family Planning measures	ANM ASHA	PHC doctor ICDS supervisor	Sec.46
IV. Education
16.	100% enrolment of children in the age group 6-14 years, coverage under Mid-day Meals scheme, identification of all eligible students for admission into hostels and facilitating them to get admission.	School HM	MEO/Hostel Wardens	Sec.46
17.	100% retention of children in the age group 6-14 years in schools	School HM	MEO/ Hostel Wardens	Sec.46
18.	100% enrolment of 15 years & above age group illiterates in Adult Education Centres and neo-literates in Continuing Education Centres	Prerak	Mandal Literacy Coordinator	Sec 46
V. Welfare & Developmental Activities
19.	100% timely distribution of all sanctioned pensions (Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Pensions for Physically Challenged &other pensions) and identification of eligible persons in Gram Sabha	Pt. Sect V.O. & IKP field staff	MPDO/ APM(SERP)	Sec.46
20.	100% Registration of all eligible newly born girls in “Bangaru Talli”	VRO/IKP Staff	Tahsildar/ APM (SERP)	Sec.46
21.	100% coverage of all needy families in MNREGS and identification of eligible youth for skill development activities under various schemes	Pt. Sect/ Field Assistant/ V.O.(SHGs)	MPDO/ APM (SERP)	Sec.46
22.	Ensuring regular delivery of quality food grains to all the ration card holders as per their entitlement	VRO	Tahsildar	Sec.46

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S.No	Functions	Village level functionary responsible	Mandal level functionary responsible	Provision as per APPR Act 1994
23.	Adoption of improved methods of cultivation through Demo plots with a view to improving productivity in Agriculture/ Horticulture Crops	Agrl. Extension Officer/ Adarsha Rythus	Mandal Agriculture Officer	Sec.46
24.	Provision of veterinary health care to all livestock in the GP	Village Livestock Officer/Vete rinary Assistant/ Paravet/ Gopal Mitra	Veterinary Assistant Surgeon	Sec.46
25.	Protection of the Panchayat &Government lands and Plantation of trees in Village Common lands for community purpose	VRO/Pt.Secy/ VSS	Tahsildar/ Forest Officer	Sec.46

6. Field level functionaries of all line departments should provide necessary assistance in their respective activities to Sarpanch in discharging various functions so as to achieve targets. While doing so, the village level institutions such as Schools, Anganwadi Centre, Health Sub-Centre, Fair Price Shops, SHG Federations (VO), Watershed Committees, VSS, etc., shall establish close linkages with Gram Panchayat and achieve convergence. If any of the field level government or Panchayat functionary fails to assist the Gram Panchayat/Sarpanch in discharging the above functions, the Sarpanch should send written complaint to the disciplinary authority concerned. The disciplinary authority in turn should submit Action Taken Report to the Sarpanch concerned. Any slackness in this matter on the part of disciplinary authority will be viewed seriously. The District Panchayat Officer/District Collector shall monitor the action taken by the respective disciplinary authorities every month.

7. Continuous capacity building of Sarpanches and Ward Members is an essential requirement for effective discharge of functions entrusted to Gram Panchayats/Sarpanchs. The respective line departments should play active role in organizing training programmes to the Sarpanches in the activities/functions concerned in coordination with the AMR-APARD and Commissioner of Panchayat Raj in this regard. Priority in training shall be given to conducting exposure visits to innovative practices and participatory interactive training sessions. The quality of training shall be assessed based on the performance of Gram Panchayats led by Sarpanches on the above indicators.

8. There shall be a web based monitoring and assessment system for continuous tracking of performance of Gram Panchayats in terms of the achievements on the Village Development Agenda. All GPs in the state will be assessed and ranked on the effective discharge of the 25 functions mentioned above. Awards will be given to the best performing Gram Panchayats led by Sarpanches at Mandal, District and State level on the Independence Day celebration held every year. For this purpose Panchayat Performance Assessment Committee will be set up at State, District and Mandal level. The details of composition of the Committees, selection process, number of awards, amount of award at each level, format of proposal and questionnaire for assessment of performance will be issued in due course.

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9. The Gram Panchayat Sarpanches in the state will take action for the preparation of Village Development Plan/Agenda, including Spatial Plan. The Director of Town & Country Planning shall prepare model Village Spatial Plan guidelines and circulate the same to District Collectors/ District Panchyat officers to enable them to prepare Village Spatial Plans. He/she must ensure that all the villages in the agglomerations of metropolitan/urban development authorities have spatial plans approved so that developments in these villages do not take place haphazardly. The Commissioner, Panchayat Raj shall prepare model Village Development Plans/guidelines and circulate the same to Districts for guidance.

10. The Commissioner, Panchayat Raj and RE is requested to take necessary follow up action on the above orders in coordination with the line departments.

(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)

DR. P.K. MOHANTY

CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

To
The Commissioner of Printing, Stationery and Stores Purchase with a request to publish in the Gazette and supply 1,000 copies.
All Special Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries/ Administrative Departments in the Secretariat.
The Commissioner, Panchayat Raj & Rural Employment Department.
The Director of Town and Country Planning, Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department
All Heads of Departments in the State.
The Director General, Centre for Good Governance The Commissioner, AMR- APARD All District Collectors in the State.
All Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishad in the State
All District Panchayat Officers in the State.

//FORWARDED::BY ORDER//

SECTION OFFICER

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