Development Package for Haryana Panchayats

• 26 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

On National Panchayati Raj Day, Haryana Chief Minister announced a Rs 368 crore development package for panchayats across the state. 

• At the state-level Gram Utthan Samaroh in Panchkula, he inaugurated 923 development projects worth Rs 233 crore and laid foundation stones for 413 more works worth Rs 135 crore. 

 Key Points 

• Strengthening Financial Support to Panchayats: 
  • Chief Minister transferred Rs 573 crore in stamp duty revenue to: 
    • 22 Zila Parishads 
    • 142 Panchayat Samitis 
    • 5,388 Gram Panchayats 
  • He released Rs 18.28 crore for constructing Mahila Chaupals in 511 Gram Panchayats, promoting women’s participation in community activities. 
  • The government disbursed Rs 1.45 crore as honorarium to: 
    • 411 Zila Parishad members 
    • 3,081 Panchayat Samiti members 
• Jagrit Gram Puraskar Yojana: 
  • He launched the Mukhyamantri Jagrit Gram Puraskar Yojana, a performance-based incentive scheme for Gram Panchayats. 
  • Panchayats will be evaluated on: 
    • Education, healthcare, sanitation 
    • Women’s empowerment, agricultural output 
    • Digital access, sustainable infrastructure 
    • Cash prizes: 
      • Rs 51 lakh for first place 
      • Rs 31 lakh for second place 
      • Rs 21 lakh for third place 
  • The winning Panchayats must use the prize money for local development activities. 
• Capacity Building of Elected Representatives: 
  • The CM also launched training kit distribution under the National Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. 
  • The government will provide refresher training to all 71,000 elected PRI representatives in Haryana. 
• Expansion of Social Security Coverage: 
  • The state credited Rs 12.59 crore into the bank accounts of 41,591 new beneficiaries under various social security pension schemes. 

 Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) 

• Background: The scheme was first approved by the Cabinet in 2018 for implementation from 2018-19 to 2021-22. 
• Implementing Agency: Ministry of Panchayati Raj. 
• Components: The main Central Components were Incentivisation of Panchayats and Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayat including other activities at Central level. 
  • The State component primarily includes Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) activities, institutional mechanisms for CB&T along with other activities at a limited scale.