Websites for each Gram Panchayat in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Mar 5 (UNI) All the Gram Panchayats of Orissa will soon have their own websites and network to maintain transparency in panchayat administration, Minister for Panchayati Raj Raghunath Mohanty announced here today.

Launching ''Dakshyata'', a project aimed at building the capacity of Panchayati Raj Institution functionaries, Mr Mohanty said the step would help in enhancing the performance of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state.

Mr Mohanty said as many as 200 Gram Panchayats in Orissa will be computerised on a pilot basis within a couple of months. During first phase, the computerisation would be done only in the panchayats having pucca building, telephone and electricity connections.

The project was launched at a function here on the occasion of 92nd birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, being celebrated as the Panchayatraj Diwas throughout the state.

The Minister said all the rest 6034 panchayats of the state would be computerised in the second phase within the next two years.

The computerisation programme was a part of overall governance reform programmes of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID).

The Dakshyat project launched with the assistance of UNDP and DFID, aimed at successful implementation of various rural development programmes.

It would help to educate the PRI functionaries about the handling the PR structures, operational modalities, provide necessary training to different stake holders for improved governance through inter and intra-institutional coordination, develop a standard capacity building framework and a capacity building policy of the state.

About 30,000 functionaries like the president, vice-president and members of zilla parishad, chairpersons, vice-chair person, panchayat samiti members, sarpanches, naib sarpanches, panchayat executive officers and panchayat secretaries would be involved in capacity building within ten months.

The State Institute for Rural Development (SIRD) would collaborate with academic, training institutions, NGO and various government and private agencies for the purpose.

The SIRD, in collaboration with some capable agencies, would also develop a pool of 100 state level trainers and 400 district level trainers to conduct largescale training programme.

As per the plan, each of the functionaries would be given about 15 days training through five different modules. The project would impart training mainly on rule, role and responsibilities of the PRI, Financial accounts and Management, Transparency and Accountability on various schemes.

The Minister said training was needed as Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore is likely to be spent in every panchayat in the coming years and without building the capacity of the PRI functionaries the desired result would not be achieved.

UNDP Country Director Pradeep Jena said the project is likely to be replicated in other states if it succeeded in Orissa.

UNI BD-DP KK GL KN1714