<span style="color: #222222;">Under the Digital India Programme, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing ePanchayat Mission Mode Project MMP with the aim to transform the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions making them more transparent, accountable and effective.<br />''<br />''In a written reply in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Kapil Moreshwar Patil said, the Ministry has launched eGramSwaraj, a work-based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj Institutions under the e-Panchayat MMP on 24th April 2020. He said, this application encompasses all aspects of Panchayat functioning like Planning or budgeting, accounting, monitoring, asset management and online payments on a single digital platform.<br />''<br />''The Minister said, BharatNet project is being implemented by Department of Telecommunications in a phased manner to provide connectivity in all the Gram Panchayats in the country through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology including Fiber to the Home. He said, as on 16th of this month, a total of one lakh 76 thousand 793 Gram Panchayats have been made Service Ready under the BharatNet project in the country.<br />''<br />''Mr Patil said, the targeted date for the completion of the project is August next year. He said, the scope of BharatNet on has been extended upto all inhabited villages beyond Gram Panchayats in the country.<br />''<br />''The Minister said, no direct financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for implementation of e-governance in the Panchayats under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project.<br />''<br />''He said, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been providing support for strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions and capacity building of Elected Representatives and functionaries of PRIs to improve their effectiveness and make them self-reliant.<br />''<br />''Mr Patil said, under the e-Panchayats component of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Yojana, States are provided with e-Governance Resource Groups which is e-State Project Monitoring Unit and e-District Project Monitoring Unit and support for computers, UPS and Printers.<br />''<br />''He said, basic grants of 14th Finance Commission and 15th Finance Commission, can be utilized for e-governance related activities by Panchayats such as purchase of computers and related accessories, providing internet connectivity and recurring charges.<br />''<br />''The Minister said, the targeted date for completion of the BharatNet project is August 2023.</span><br />