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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Workshop held on central grants for PRI functionaries

GANGTOK, 01 Oct [IPR]: A workshop on Central Grants for Panchayat Members and PRI Functionaries of West and South Districts of Sikkim was organized by the Directorate of Panchayati Raj, RM&DD here at the capital today. Secretary RM& DD, DR Nepal in his address informed that Sikkim is among the leading states in the country to conduct regular panchayat elections. He also mentioned that Sikkim has had an efficient track record in terms of fund transfer to PRIs.
He maintained that the urgency with which the funds from the 13th Finance Commission are dispersed to the PRI functionaries shows the level of commitment of the Central Government to uplift the Panchayati Raj Institutions. He urged the functionaries to reciprocate this act through consistent good work.
The Secretary stressed on proper documentation of activities and timely submission of utilization reports to the Department to ensure timely disbursement of grants thereby maintaining an efficient level of functioning. While informing about the training being imparted to the PRI functionaries the Secretary informed that the State Institute of Rural Development, Karfectar is the third best amongst such institutes in the country.
He further mentioned that the Department had constituted Sikkim Legal Services Authority, the State Institute of Rural Development and the Hotel Management Institute Sajong as training partners for capacity building of the PRI functionaries.
Earlier, Joint Secretary Panchayat, Norzing Bhutia oriented the Panchayat members on the correct ways of compiling and submitting the Utilization Reports of activities carried out under the 13th Finance Commission Fund and the Backward Region Grants Fund. She stressed that the fund under the BRGF was exclusively for gap filling purpose and not for the routine activities under the PRI.
She informed about online applications like PRIASOFT, PLAN PLUS, and ACTION SOFT already in use in Sikkim to ensure transparency in accounting. The Joint Secretary also informed about the formation of a Ward Level Development Committee constituted by members of zilla and gram panchayat.
Earlier, Secretary RM&DD handed over installment cheques from the 13th Finance Commission Fund and the Operation and Maintenance Fund for Village Water and Sanitation Committee.
The workshop was also addressed by Director Panchayat RM&DD, HB Gurung, Deputy Secretary SIRD, Yangchen Bhutia, and Panchayat Inspector, Zomden Lachungpa.

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