National Panchayati Raj Day
Today is a significant day as we celebrate the National Panchayati Raj Day to commemorate the historic Constitution Act (73rd Amendment) passed in 1992 which came into existence a year later on April 24, 1993. The launch of the e-GramSwaraj portal and app today, makes this a doubly important day. The portal shows us the vastness of India’s Local Governance framework.
We have over 2.66 lakh Gram Panchayats across the length and breadth of our country. This is where “the rubber hits the road” and this is where, as Gandhiji said, India lives. On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we at Mission Samriddhi launched the India Panchayat Forum (IPF) at Gandhi Ashram, Sewagram in Wardha. I felt that the 73rd Amendment that provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institution is yet to realise its full potential. The need for the India Panchayat Forum stems from this gap and is envisioned to promote the Gandhian vision of Panchayat Raj. This upholds constitutional values, social justice and the highest standards of governance with a special focus on Antyodaya.
In our federal structure, our Gram Panchayats are the unsung heroes. Devolution of power to Local Government continues to be a contentious issue, but the launch of this portal ensures transparency, and thereby a level playing field. Each Panchayat has different challenges, and most do come up with innovative solutions.
On this significant day, let us work with them and help them achieve effective Local Governance, and become examples to the world.
Technology Enabler
4 年Gram panchayats are good idea and I am sure many of 266k in India may be efficient and work for people but many of them may be controlled by some rich landlord or their goons and monies pilfered. We need people to be educated to know their rights and honest beuarocarcy to make this system work.
Seeking IMPACT VCs; Founder JALODBUST-Sanitation by Digi-mech. for Urban, UGD, Slum & Rural sanitation; AWARDEE: ASMEiSHOW 2020, USA; BIRAC-BIG-17; CiTe-2021(NDMC-IITK); BioSmart-2020; ISC-FICCI-(2020); Top10-Swachhata
4 年Sir, Arun Jain , as a tribute to your commitment and conviction towards nurturing grass-roots of our Social Pyramid, i have put up your picture in my Profile header on Winning the ASME #ISHOW20 Award for Hardware-led Social Innovation JALODBUST. #ServingWhoServe
Appreciate this post Arun Jain , really a significant one, decentralization of governance can actually speed up the sustainable development model. Exactly this was of more interest to Gandhiji , and in a way, India's foundation lies with these panchayats and villages most of which are rural. We are really empowered when we ensure people living in these lakhs of panchayts are empowered with education, access to digital governance, access to medical system and of course, clean water.
Director, Mentor & Advisor ( formerly : Executive VP, Partner & Group CFO at Intellect Design Arena Ltd)
4 年Governance structure in democtratic India is complete only when third & key level of local Government is supported to function effectively. This Initiative is so significant & appropriate at this juncture. It is like celebrating further empowerment of village panchayat raj where rural India can participate far better in governance . We will see the benefits of better delivery of governance , more empowerment & participation of people and making village models self sustaining . It is great Mission Samriti identified this need years back and have been contributing towards deleopong Panchayat Leadership . Feeling very proud.