DIGITISATION IN GRAM PANCHAYATS

KG NEWS DESK

NEW DELHI:As per the information available, out of 269073Gram Panchayats (GPs)/ Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs), 226063 GPs have been computerized.

Panchayat being State subject, providing computers for Gram Panchayats (GPs) is primarily the responsibility of States. However, under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme approved for implementation from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026, has been supplementing the efforts of all States/UTs with focus on NE States, towards supporting functioning of GPs by providing computers as proposed by States/UTs in their Annual Action Plan and approved by Central Empowered Committee on a limited scale. Apart from this, the untied/ basic grants under 15th Finance Commission can also be used by Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) for computerization of GPs.

Bharat Net project is being implemented in a phased manner by Department of Telecommunications to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats and equivalent in the country. As on date, over 2.12 lakh GPs have been made Service Ready under the Bharat Net project in the country. The scope of coverage of Bharat Net has been expanded to all inhabited villages from 30.06.2021. The targets of BSNL for providing Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections to all GPs will be through Bharat Net by 2024-25.(PIB)