The Centre has been continuously urging the states to devolve powers to the Panchayats in accordance with the Constitutional stipulation.

Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister for Panchayati Raj Mr V Kishore Chandra Deo said that his ministry has provided assistance to states for capacity building of Panchayats through the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana, Capacity Building grant of the Backward Regions Grant and Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan.

He said an untied grant is provided to Panchayats through states for bridging critical gaps in local infrastructure in 250 backward districts on the basis of decentralized planning under Backward Regions Grant Fund.

Mr Deo said the Minister for Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation has suggested to the Planning Commission that one per cent of the outlay for rural development should be earmarked for strengthening Panchayats. He said the Planning Commission has, in principle, agreed to the suggestion.