Min of Panchayati Raj adopts software to track progress

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES) which was developed under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) is aiding the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to monitor the progress of its various projects. The PES applications have the in-built capacity to share information.

e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) being part of National e- Governance Plan (NeGP) is being regularly monitored by NeGP Apex Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, as per a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau.

The PES is the combination of eleven core common software applications. Four of these applications namely, PRIASoft, PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal and Local Governance Directory have been adopted by States and can be accessed at http://accountingonline.gov.in, http://planningonline.gov.in, http://panchayat.gov.in and http://panchayatdirectory.gov.in respectively, according to news release from PIB.

PRIASoft (web based Panchayat accounting software) and PlanPlus (web based participatory Planning software) are the two important Applications under e-Panchayat MMP that foster transparency and accountability in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

PRIASoft has been adopted by sixteen States and one Union Territory upto 2011-12. States like Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Karnataka having their own accounting software, have also been advised to map their respective software Applications with PRIASoft. PlanPlus has been adopted by twenty-three States upto 2011-12.

On 24th April 2012 (the National Pachayati Raj Day), six more applications were launched and it is in the process of adoption by the states. The officials of all states and Union Territories will be trained on PES application during the year. The training plan for six months has been shared with all states and UTs.

In order to bring in more transparency, accountability and credibility of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been pursuing the State Governments to adopt PES applications developed under the project.

The Centre has asked the states to utilize funds from other sources like the 13th Central Finance Commission grants, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employement Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). Since the project does not provide funds for hardware including computers, the states have been advised to procure ICT Infrastructure including computers at Panchayats.

"During the year 2011-12, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj also disbursed Rs. 38.5 crores to States for setting up Programme Management Units (PMUs) at State and District levels for providing technical and hand holding support to ensure effective and timely roll out of the e-Panchayat MMP," said V. Kishore Chandra Deo, Minister of Panchayati Raj, in a reply in the Lok Sabha.

"Over 29000 officials have been trained in all applications, so far. Trainings are also being conducted to impart basic ICT literacy to PRI representatives. So far, about 8600 functionaries and elected Members have been imparted training in ICT literacy," added Deo.