New Delhi, Dec 16: Jammu and Kashmir has received more than ₹235 crore in central assistance over the last five years under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), the Union government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The funds were released to support capacity building, training, basic infrastructure and digitalisation of rural local bodies in the Union Territory.
In a written reply, Union Minister for Cooperation and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, said that Panchayati Raj is a State subject, and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj supplements the efforts of States and Union Territories through centrally supported schemes such as RGSA. As per official data, Jammu and Kashmir received ₹25 crore in 2020–21, ₹40 crore in 2021–22, ₹40 crore in 2022–23, ₹65 crore in 2023–24 and ₹65 crore in 2024–25, with substantial utilisation reported across the years.
The minister said RGSA is the only centrally sponsored scheme dedicated to capacity building of elected representatives and functionaries of PRIs, while also providing limited assistance for infrastructure such as Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computerisation. Under the scheme, Annual Action Plans submitted by States and UTs are examined and approved by a Central Empowered Committee.
In Jammu and Kashmir, large-scale training programmes have been conducted under RGSA, with over 7.25 lakh participants trained between 2022–23 and 2025–26. The scheme has also approved the construction of 1,000 Gram Panchayat Bhawans and the procurement of 1,318 computers in the UT to improve the functioning of grassroots institutions.
The reply highlighted that RGSA has supported participatory governance through initiatives such as the People’s Plan Campaign for preparation of Panchayat Development Plans, and promoted transparency through digital platforms like eGramSwaraj, AuditOnline and Meri Panchayat. Training of PRI representatives is being carried out through State Institutes of Rural Development, District Panchayat Resource Centres and national institutions.
The minister said these measures aim to empower local bodies, strengthen democratic governance at the grassroots and improve service delivery in rural areas across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.
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