Infrastructure for Panchayats

The Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo has said that availability of buildings and infrastructure is important for effective functioning of Panchayats. Panchayati Raj being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide the required infrastructure, including buildings to Panchayats vests with States Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. In order to supplement the efforts of the States and UTs, for improving Panchayat infrastructure, which is needed to facilitate their functioning, financial assistance is provided for the construction of Gram Panchayat (GP) buildings under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) for districts not covered under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). Assistance is also provided in the form of an untied grant to Panchayats through the States in 250 identified districts under BRGF to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements. Construction of GP buildings is a permissible activity under BRGF. In addition, construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra (BNRGSK) as Village Knowledge Resource Centre and Gram Panchayat Bhawan at Gram Panchayat level are permissible activities under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) being implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha