Government Department

About Us
The Rural Development and Panchayats Department is responsible for the implementation of various centrally Sponsored and State Funded Schemes for poverty alleviation,  employment generation, sanitation, capacity building, women’s social and economic empowerments, apart from provision of basic amenities and services. The guiding and driving force of Rural Development and Panchayats Department is to endow the Panchayats  (Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad) with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self Govt.  in Rural areas of the State. 73rd amendment of Constitution of India has provided social scenario with assured participation of rural people especially women folk and weaker section of society, in achieving their envisaged aspirations and other needs. There are 12809 Gram Panchayats and 141 Block Samites and 20 Zila Parishads under the Preview of the department.

Sh.Ranjit Singh Brahmpura is the Hon’ble Minister for Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. Sh. J.S Sandhu, IAS is the Finacial Commissioner Rural Development  Panchayats since 26.02.2009. Sh. Gurdev Singh Sidhu, IAS is the Director Rural Development and Panchayats since 12.04.2007. Dr. S.Karuna Raju, IAS is the Joint Development Commissioner(IRD) since 03.03.2009.

Functions and Duties
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats is assigned with the duty of assisting the PRIs in discharging of its constitutional obligations.  The main functions and duties of the offices and employees working in the department are :-

1. Providing administrative frame-work for smooth functioning of the PRIs.
2. Rendering assistance in implementing schemes and projects through PRIs.
3. To Extend the technical support and know how to PRIs in order to execute various development schemes at the different levels.
4. Providing appropriate forum for redressal of grievances of rural people concerning the Department.
5. Arranging training programme and courses suitable to cater to the needs of PRIs and rural masses.
6. Rendering help in connection with election of PRI bodies.
7. Affording forum of planning at the micro level and consolidating them at the District level through constitutional bodies of State District Planning Boards.
8. Providing frame work of Quasi judicial Courts of Collector and Commissioner to  regulate and utilized the shamlat land for the benefit of Panchayats and also to protect the common property of the PRIs.
9. Mobilizing women of the rural area to make them aware of their social needs and strengthen their economic status.

The department has well organized setup manned by  administrative and technical staff. Outline of this structure is shown in the form of chart as per annexure.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB
(ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP)
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F. C./SECY.
(R.D.P.)

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The Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayats has two wings i.e. A & B

A WING
Establishment branches RDE-1 to 5 are working under the Deputy Secretary, Rural Development (DSRD) and Under Secretary, Rural Development (USRD) mainly dealing with establishment matters of Officers/Officials of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department. They submit their files to the Director Rural Development and Panchayats who also acts as Special Secretary Rural Development and Panchayats (SRDP).

Controller Panchayati Raj Finance (CPF) is looking after the work relating to Budget, Accounts/Audit and Cattle Fair Cell (Financial matters only) of the Department .Besides, Joint Director (Planning) looks after the Planning section of the Department. Research Officer of Economic Intelligence Units assists him in collection and compilation of requisite data. Details of duties and functions are as per annexure.

Deputy Director (Women Programme) looks after the work of Women Programmes through Development Officers (Women Programme) and Mukhya Sevikas etc. One Education & Panchayat Officer (EPO) looks after the training programme.

Total sanctioned posts of department are as under:                        

After Constitutional amendment following post have been transferred to this department during June 2006.

                   ETT Teachers                        13034
                   Medical Sevice Provider          1187
                   Veterinary Service Provider      582

                   Major Head of Accounts are as under:
                   2515-           other Rural Development Programs.
                   3604-           Compensating the local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions.
                   2202-           Social Education.
                   2415-           Agriculture and Education.
                   4515-           Capital layout on the other Rural Development Program and other.

Total receipt of funds under the head account 2515 was 76,70,23000 during year 2008-09 and this amount disbursed to the different offices of the head quarter and as well as  to the field offices. Total provision for the funds for year 2009-10 is 81,56,48000.

B WING                                
Establishment branch ( Directorate Side ) maily deals with establishment matters of Officers/ Officials of PRI’s as well as all establishment matters of Panchayat Secretaries.

G.P.F. branch deals with maintenance G.P.F. accounts of all the officers/officials of Rural  Development & Panchayats Departments (Group A,B,C,D).This branch also attends Audit Objections of E.L.F.A. and A.G. Panjab as well as attends court cases relating to G.P.F. 
                            
Land Development branch mainly deals with management of Shamlat Lands .Disposal, sale and gifting of  Gram Panchayat Lands to Institutions as approved under section 13 of Punjab Village and Common Lands (Regulation)  Act, 1961.This branch also monitor and issue general instruction to lease out Shamlat Lands. This branch also persue court cases pending in the various courts and issue instructions to defend the court cases pertaining to Shamlat Lands.  The cases relating to the allotment of the Shamlat Lands to Schedule Cast, Backward Classes, Landless Labourer, tenants or any other deserving poor measuring 5 Marlas   plots for construction of houses as per the pervisions of section13A of the Punjab Village Common Land (Regulation) Act, 1961. The income from lease of Panchayat/ Shamlat Land for year 2008-09 is here as under:                                    

Election Branch mainly deals with the matter pertaining to Constitution of new Panchayat, alteration in the boundary of existing Panchayats & Panchayat Samities, Notification for general election to Panchayat Samits and Zila Parishad During general election. Determine reservation of seats of offices of panches for women, S.C and B.C category as per rule 11 of Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 for election of Panchayati Raj bodies. Issue  instructions for oth taking process for the newly elected members of Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads.

Complaint Branch mainly deals complaints against the Sarpanches & Panches(Former or Present)are dealt in the Complaint Branch. these complaints are sent to the field officers for enquiries and after suitable enquiry Action under Punjab Panchayati Raj Act 1994 is also initiates in this branch.
                                     
Legal Branch deals with cases filed under Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961. Beside the cases filled by diffrents person’s in Hon’ble Punjab High Court , Haryana High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court against department’s orders and execution of these cases are also done by this branch.

PANCHAYATI RAJ PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION WING
                                               
There is a separate Panchayati Raj Construction Wing in the department under the control of Superintending Engineer (PRC). There 16 Divisions, each headed by an Executive Engineer at the District Headquarter. The following branches working under Superintending Engineer(PRC):-

Establishment Branch deals with  the service matter of clerical , drawings, J.E’s and Class IV employees. This branch sends information/ report about gazetted employees also send to the government by this branch as demanded by government.
                   
Accounts Branch deals with the account matters especially maintance of G.P.F and GIS accounts, the disposal of the reports of audit and inspection CAG and PAC paras budget allotment, creation of new posts and the matters of pension cases and Salaries also deal in this branch.
                  
Work Branch deals with the total works specially correspondence about ongoing government schemes. It also deals with the NIT and DNIT of works, tender cases, increase in the period of construction as well as amount of agreement, enlistment and short listing of contractors, review progress and collect reports. This branch also issue instructions about works in the fields.
                  
Drawing Branch deals with preparation  of drawings, site plans, maps, estimates, The project reports also prepared by this branch on the  demand of government.

At the state head quarter there are posts of S.D.O(Planning) and S.D.O(Electrical) to assist the Superintending Engineer.
                            
The Engineering Wing of department provides technical guidance to the construction works of Panchayats/ Panchayats Samties in the field. The construction works allotted to this departments from other departments are also done.
                            
From Year 2007-08 to Year 2008-09 6248.03 Lakhs spends by this Wing against deposit works. With this amounts 1192 construction works were completed and 591 works  which were under construction are going to be completed on priority.

PANDIT JWAHAR LAL NEHRU STATE INSTITUE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pandit Jwahar Lal Nehru State Institute of Rural Development is situated at Bhwanigarh road, Nabha. This institute is established in 1987. The objective of this institute is provide research, training and consultancy. The Training of programs are conducted under the instructions of National Institute of Rural Development Hyderabad. For this purpose the training is given to officers and PRI’s elected   representatives.The information is provided to PRI’s elected persons regarding their rights and responsibilities, development, Social service, Punjab Panchayati Raj Act 1994, Village common Land Act 1961, NREGS.

In Year 2008-09 under NREGS the training given at Panchayat level to 6751 men’s and 3213 Women’s and at Panchayat Samti level 656 men’s and 121 women’s. the institute also initiate training under NREGS in many Blocks from 17  June 2009 to 31 March 2010. The training regarding information given to PRI’s elected person’s daily works and Panchayati Raj Act 1994 to 19208 men’s and 8583 women’s. this training also continue this year.   

JOINT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER

The office of Joint Development Commissioner deals with Centrally Sponsored Schemes. the followings are the main schemes:-

1. BRGF( Backward Region Grant Fund) Schemes
2. Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY)
3. Indra Awas Yojna (IAY)
4. NREGS(National Rural Employment Guaranty Schemes)
5. IWDP

BRGF( Backward Region Grant Fund)  the main aim of this schemes to deals with problem of  unemployment, reduction of distance in physical and social structure and increase in agriculture production. This schemes is 100% centrally sponsored scheme which is implemented in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. the progress up to 30.04.2009 is as under.

Estimate cost of works                        4500 Lakh rupees
Released amount                                4500 Lakh rupees

Expense:-

1. For SC                                        1358.19 Lakh rupees (32%)
2. Others                                       2942.39 Lakh rupees (68%)

Total                                                   4300.58 Lakh rupees (96%)

Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY) the main aim of this scheme is to establish small scale industries in rural areas for poor people to increase the income of poor people according to their capacity.

Indira Awas Yojna the aim of this scheme is primarily to help the rural poor construction/up  gradation of dwelling unit of members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and other below the poverty line non-SC/ST rural house holds by providing them a lump sum financial assistance                     

          Total available funds during 2008-09                 6880.89 (in lakhs)
          Expense  during  2008-09                                 4639.44 (in lakhs)
          Balance during 2008-09                                    2241.45 (in lakhs)

NREGS(National Rural Employment Guaranty Schemes) the aim of this scheme is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guarenteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. This work guarentee can also serve other objectives: generating productive assets, protecting the environmnent, empowering rural women, reducing rural-urban migration and fostering social equity, among others.

IWDP  the aim this scheme is use the useless land of villages on the basis of Micro Water Shed for development. this project also provide the employment in rural areas.