New Delhi (Aryavarth): In an endeavor to transform governance at the grass-roots level, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, under the flagship Digital India Programme, is progressively implementing the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) across the nation. This initiative targets restructuring the functionality of Panchayats, making them “more transparent, accountable and effective.”
The Ministry has unveiled eGramSwaraj, a pioneering accounting application aimed at streamlining Panchayat operations such as planning, accounting, and budgeting. Alongside, they have amalgamated eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to enable Gram Panchayats (GPs) to conduct real-time transactions with vendors and service providers.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is executing the BharatNet project in sync with this digital stride. This project aims to offer broadband connectivity to every GP in the country. With the first phase completed in December 2017, they successfully equipped approximately 1.22 lakh GPs with broadband facilities. The implementation of the second phase is ongoing and has already catered to over 77,000 GPs.
Alongside digitizing operations, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is taking comprehensive steps to fortify and develop the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the States and Union Territories. The strategies adopted include rewarding high-performing Panchayats, offering financial and technical support for capacity building, strengthening budgeting, accounting and auditing systems, and helping States prepare participatory Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
Significant progress has been noted over the last three years, with an impressive adoption of eGramSwaraj across Panchayats in different States and Union Territories. The annexure shared provides a detailed account of the adoption and application of online payment systems via eGramSwaraj across various Indian states from 2020 to 2023.
This digital advancement in rural governance forms part of the broader ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and ‘G20-India-2023’ initiatives. It underscores India’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and strengthening its democratic foundations.
