Panchayati Raj Institutions :
Enhancing Delivery of Information
and Services to Rural Citizens
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
Presented by:
Sri. S. Baya, IAS
Commissioner-cum-Secretary
Panchayati Raj Dept., Government of Orissa
http//:orissagov.nic.in/panchayat/default.asp
8th National Conference on e-Governance
Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Feb 3-5, 2005

Orissa: PRIs at a glance
• Population (Rural) – 3.12 crores.
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
• 51055 villages, 6234 GP, 314 PS, 30 ZP
with 100862 elected representatives.
• 62% BPL- as per 1997 survey, 48% - as per
Planning Commission.
• 38% SC/ST.
• Mandate of Constitution –PRIs to work for
Economic Development & Social Justice.
• Election as per PESA in 2002 with PRI at all 3-
tiers headed by STs in 1913 GPs, 118 Blocks &
12 ZPs.
• Capacity Building of Elected PRIs Office
bearers.
• Total flow of fund - 900 Crores/annum.

Challenges
• 125,000 small projects for community infrastructure and 95,000
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
individual benefits to be monitored - from village plans, estimate,
work order, measurement, bills, payment, Utilization Certificate
and CAG audit etc.
• The Block and G.P offices are too over loaded with paper work to
ensure quality implementation of Rural Development schemes.
• 92 schemes of 11 departments with different sets of guidelines –
from only Palli Sabha execution to issuance of work order .
• Stock & Store – mismanagement
• Auditing problem- lack of quality information
• Unwieldy book-keeping at Blocks and G.Ps discourages District
Collectors/DRDAs from rigorous supervision for proper
implementation of schemes.

Enablers
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
• Supreme Court directive to place all wage-employment
projects with details of expenditure on website with a
search facility.
• Database fund of 11th Finance Commission allowed
purchase of Computer for blocks.
• Gramsat Project enabled V-Sat connectivity at
314+30+state level online connectivity.
• PriaSoft experiment gave confidence for Accounting
Standardization and Citizen interface.
• Right sizing enabled each block to get an IT
professional (BE / MCA) in lieu surrendered posts.

Today’s Situation
Steps taken Area of coverage
Providing computer hardware to each All 314 Block offices in Orissa.
and every Block office including LAN The DRDAs already have the
Hardware facility. necessary computers and
peripherals.
V-SAT based 128 kbps network facility All 314 Blocks and 30 DRDAs.
Connectivity connecting all the Blocks, DRDAs with Over 311 Blocks have already got
the State the V-SAT commissioned.
I.T qualified technical personnel to 328 technical personnel have
Manpower provide on site support for application already been in position since
April 1st week of 2004.
software and training.
Direct Reception System (DRS) facility All 30 districts , 314 Blocks and 1087
for training of the functionaries of PRIs. GPs in KBK districts are linked with
DRS state Hq. 28 numbers of ITPs for
VSAT connectivity for transfer of
capacity building of PR functionaries.
Information and capacity building.
Implementation of PRIASOFT for funds Online transmission of data in
PRIASOFT flow monitoring as per the CAG – 6243 GPs, 314 Block & 30 DRDAs
Guidelines. on monthly basis linked to PR
website.
Implementation of RURALSOFT for Online transmission of data in
RURALSOFT monitoring of physical progress of 6243 GPs, 314 Block & 30 DRDAs
Poverty Alleviation Programmes linked to PR website.

Today’s Situation…
Steps taken Area of coverage
DRDA/Block portal using All information of each
DRDA
e-NRICH. DRDA is available in the
PORTAL
web-site.
Implementation of PAMIS Implemented in
for monitoring of daily Bhubaneswar block on
accounts in 30 Districts / pilot basis.
314 Blocks as per the CAG Implemented in all 30
PAMIS
– compliant. DRDAs.
DRDA/Block professionals
have been sensitized .
Implementation of Implemented in
PAYROLL in 30 Districts / Bhubaneswar Block on
PAY ROLL 314 Blocks pilot basis.
(BETAN)

Vision: Automation for Transparency
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
• E-Panchayat with capacity to
– inform
– interact
– transact business on internet
• Three-tier PRIs inter-linked electronically with Directorate
and Secretariat with automated
– Fund flow
– Financial accounting
– Project monitoring
– Beneficiaries monitoring

Engagement of e-partners
• NIC associated for online RuralSoft, PriaSoft
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
and e-NRICH .
– Monitoring of physical progress of poverty alleviation
programmes.
– Funds flow monitoring as per CAG complaint.
– DRDA/BLOCK portal
• OCAC associated for online payroll package
– Integrate Pay Roll package
– OCAC to maintain & upgrade a/s software centrally.
• XIM engaged for online Accounting for Blocks/DRDAs
– Implementation of Panchayat Accounts Monitoring
Information System (PAMIS)
– IT Consultant for the Panchayati Raj Department.
• UNDP supporting Citizen service model
– Details of Beneficiary & Projects.
– Integration of 21 subjects of 11 department.
– Public interface.

Outcome
Knowledge based
Enabling
e-Panchayat Decision support
Electronics
Capacity System
Public Services
Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
Building
Empowerment
of Citizens
Entertainment
And information
Strong
Database
Information
Web based
Services
Monitoring
Tracking of
Project
Village Development
Monitoring
Accountability Accessibility
funds Transparency
e-Governance & Rural Prosperity through PRIs

Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
“Unless e-governance helps in
service delivery, any initiative for
e-Governance would end up in mere
computerization of activity without
tangible benefit to stakeholders.”

Panchayati Raj dept. Orissa
for your kind attention !