The E-Gram Swaraj portal is a web-based portal for maintaining online records of gram panchayats, focusing on ensuring transparency in the decentralised planning, progress reporting and work-based accounting for the panchayati raj institutions.
It is referred to as a Simplified Work Based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj. This article provides all information about using the e-gram swaraj app or website, as well as its advantages.
The Indian government unveiled the e-gram swaraj portal to bring local panchayat governance online as the country's digitization drive reached its peak. Let us first look at what the e-gram swaraj yojana is all about.
What Is E-Gram Swaraj Yojana?
E-gram swaraj is a Panchayati raj simplified work-based accounting application. The Indian government created this web-based platform to guarantee transparency in work-based accounting, decentralised planning, and progress reporting in Panchayati raj organisations. The public will have access to every detail of the work plans and implementation in every village panchayat under the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) on this platform.
The portal was launched as part of the E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). As a result, the E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project was used to construct the e-gram swaraj portal by combining the functions of already-existing applications. Both, a website and an app are accessible for the e-gram swaraj portal, and it is also in the Hindi language.
Some Important Benefits of the E-gram Swaraj Portal are as Follows
It ensures transparency through decentralised planning of development projects and helps to provide updates on progress reports.
It helps to accelerate the implementation of projects in villages.
It helps to know the details of allocated funds and the status of ongoing works.
Individuals can monitor the work done by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
It provides the complete information of any gram panchayat like Panch, Sarpanch, panchayat's information, property details, mission antyodaya, panchayat development plan, etc., in one place.
It has simple navigation for the users and rationalises the number of data entries.
Features Of E-Gram Swaraj Portal
eGram Swaraj portal marks the complete digitisation of rural areas and villages.
It can be accessed at its official website and is available as a mobile app.
Any person can get information about the developmental works of any village in India.
Individuals can know about all the works undertaken by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
eGram Swaraj app is a single digital platform maintaining records of all panchayats across the country.
Gram Swaraj Portal - Registration and Login Process
Step 1: Open your browser and go to the e-gram swaraj portal.
Step 2: On the e-gram swaraj portal's home page, click the "login" link in the top right corner.
Step 3: Following the completion of the captcha, you must input your username and password and click the login button.
There are three different ways to log in to the e-gram swaraj portal: maker, admin, and checker.
Important Updates of E-gram Swaraj Portal
The Gram Swaraj Portal was established to promote e-governance in Panchayati Raj institutions across the country. About 2.54 lakh GPDPs for the fiscal year 2021-2022 were uploaded on the platform as a result of that initiative.
Online payments to vendors or service providers are possible using the eGS-PFMS, also referred to as the eGSPI interface.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the online tool "Audit Online" to make it easier to audit Panchayat accounts and maintain audit records. This will guarantee that panchayat account audits are completed on schedule.
With a vision to strengthen digitalization in Panchayats for the purpose of empowering rural India, a unified tool e-Gram SWARAJ portal (https://egramswaraj.gov.in/) has been developed by the Ministry for effective monitoring and evaluation of works taken up in the Gram Panchayats.
e-Gram SWARAJ unifies the planning, accounting and monitoring functions of Gram Panchayats. Its combination with the Area Profiler application, Local Government Directory (LGD) and the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) renders easier reporting and tracking of Gram Panchayat's activities. It provides a single window for capturing Panchayat information with the complete Profile of the Panchayat, details of Panchayat finances, asset details, activities taken up through Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP), Panchayat information from other Ministries/ Departments such as Census 2011, SECC data, Mission Antyodaya survey report etc.
For the year 2020-21, around 2.43 lakh Gram Panchayats have finalized their GPDP on e-Gram SWARAJ. Further, around 1.24 lakh Gram Panchayats have transacted online using the e-Gram SWARAJ Online Payment Module.
The Ministry launched eGramSwaraj, a work-based comprehensive application for PRIs under the e-Panchayat MMP on 24th April 2020. This application encompasses all aspects of Panchayat functioning viz. planning, budgeting, accounting, monitoring, asset management etc, on a single digital platform including online payments. So far, 2.53 lakh GPs have prepared and uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs)for 2022-23.
Under 14th Finance Commission, 1.44 lakh GPs and 91,607 GPs have carried out online transactions during 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. Similarly, 1.93 lakh GPs have carried online transactions under 15th Finance Commission during 2021-22.
Under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project funds are being provided to National Informatics Center Services Inc. (NICSI) for central level support for maintenance of e-Panchayat applications including eGramSwaraj.
During 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 funds to the tune of Rs. 7.25 Crore, 17.79 Crore and 11.71 Crore respectively are released to NICSI under e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project.
The Ministry constantly engages with the States through virtual and physical training and enablement for States to adopt the eGramSwaraj application. All States are making efforts to implement e-Panchayat MMP, based on their available resources.
However, due to differentials in the level of preparedness of Panchayats across the country, States are at different stages of implementing these applications.