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Panchayats to get more powers in Haryana
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 9
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced a number of steps to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the state and ensure maximum involvement of people in development projects.

Now all funds or grant-in-aid under all schemes would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of gram panchayats and they can grant administrative approval for all works to be undertaken under various schemes, except that of Haryana Rural Development Fund (HRDF), without any limit, Hooda said in a statement here.

Also, now instead of the Deputy Commissioner, the president of the zila parishad would be the chairperson of the District Rural Development Agency. Members of the zila parishad and the panchayat samiti would have the right to inspect various development works within their wards. The engineering wing of the Panchayati Raj Department would work under the panchayats.

The Chief Minister said all funds or grant-in-aid under all schemes like the HRDF, Pavement of Streets, Surcharge on VAT, Mukhya Mantri Anusuchit Jati Nirmal Basti Yojana, Special Development Works, State Finance Commission Funds and Central Finance Commission Funds would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of gram panchayats through the Real Time Gross Settlement system. Earlier, the funds used to be given through Deputy Commissioners or Additional Deputy Commissioners.

Hooda said the gram panchayat would have the discretion to either execute the work itself, directly or through a local contractor, or it could entrust the work to the Panchayati Raj Engineering Wing for the works estimated up to Rs 10 lakh. In case of works estimated above Rs 10 lakh, the gram panchayat could get those executed through the Panchayati Raj Engineering Wing.

Hooda’s Agenda

Funds under all schemes to be transferred directly to bank accounts of gram panchayats

President of zila parishad to be chairperson of District Rural Development Agency, instead of Deputy Commissioner

Members of zila parishad and panchayat samiti to have the right to inspect development works