shimla to ensure better governance in rural areas the himachal government is laying emphasis on strengthening the panchayati raj institutions pris across the state for the holistic development of rural areas the state government has constituted 412 new gram panchayats with creation of these panchayats the himachal government aims to facilitate the people and also ensure rapid development of the rural areas in a statement issued on sunday the state government said that pris are the backbone of rural development in the year 201819 rs 85017 crore were sanctioned under 14th finance commission to several gram panchayats for various development works out of which about rs 700 crore have been spent in the year 202021 under the 15th finance commission the central government provided rs 429 crore for panchayats and in the year 202122 a provision of rs 317 crore was made for developmental works in panchayats in last four years rs 429 crore have been provided for gram panchayats under the recommendations of state finance commission in the year 202122 a provision of rs 248 crore was made for development of rural areas district resource centres were being set up in district sirmaur with an expenditure of rs 565 crore in kinnaur with an expenditure of rs 365 crore and in district una with an expenditure of rs 550 crore the state government has released rs 7 crore for upgradation and restoration of gram panchayat buildings and work on 69 panchayat buildings have been completed at an expense of rs 571 crore tnn