The rural development ministry has proposed a separate cadre of 'panchayat service' for focused and effective implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes such as NREGA, Indira Aawas Yojna  (IAY),  Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF).

The proposal will be discussed in length at a meeting of state RD ministers and secretaries in the capital on September 22.

“Availability of adequate manpower is critical for the ever increasing responsibilities of the panchayats that oversee the implementation of several of the centre’s flagship schemes. However, panchayats across the country are deficient in this resource. Keeping in view the increasing responsibilities of the panchayats, it is proposed that the states create a cadre to be called panchayat service and provide a core team of personnel to the panchayats,” said a background note for the discussion.

The centre has proposed that the states can earmark a part of BRGF state budget allocation to meet their share of the expenditure on the functionaries of this cadre. The centre would support the efforts of the state government by earmarking a part of NREGA allocation. The share of the central government would be 80 percent for the first year, which will reduce by 10 percent every year subsequently.

In the first phase gram panchayats up to a population of 5,000 would be covered. In addition all districts categorised as maoist affected districts, irrespective of the size of the population, will be covered.

Under the recruitment and service rules of panchayat service, every gram panchayat would be entitled to one panchayt development officer, junior emgineer, accountant cum data entry operator, and assistant extension officer.