Latest news with #GramSwaraj
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt urged to restore powers vested in gram panchayat
Mangaluru: Karnataka State Federation of Gram Panchayat Representatives president Deviprasad Shetty Belapu said the govt should restore the powers vested in gram panchayats as per the decentralisation. Stating that gram panchayats lost several powers in terms of administration, Shetty said that massive protests will be organised across the state. "The state and central govts seem to have no interest in strengthening panchayati raj institutions. The power of local governance envisaged under the Gram Swaraj system is being snatched away from people. People faced inconvenience while seeking building licences, purchasing sites, and obtaining Forms 9 and 11. There is a concerted effort to finish off the GP system of local governance. While efforts to end the taluk and zilla panchayat system seem to be successful, secret moves are being made to destroy the GP system too," Shetty said. This may put an end to even the elections for GPs in the state. Rights and freedom of GPs are being seized through govt orders. He said GPs lost even the power to issue door numbers for houses and other buildings in villages in the name of urban development authorities. People also lost their right to build a house with basic infrastructure, he said. "We will strengthen the forum of gram panchayat representatives under four zones - Hyderabad Karnataka, North Karnataka, coastal Karnataka, and Malnad region, to launch protests. CM Siddaramaiah, RDPR minister Priyank Kharge, MLCs Manjunath Bhandary and Kishore Kumar Puttur, who represent local authorities constituency, should consider the issue seriously," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Soon, UP districts to have dedicated committees to keep track on projects
Lucknow: After organising 'Gram Chaupals', the Yogi govt has decided to constitute dedicated committees in every district to keep a close track on the execution of developmental works and oversee the effective implementation of welfare measures initiated by the Centre and the state govt in rural areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The development attains much pertinence even as BJP starts preparing for the next year's panchayat elections and 2027 state polls. The proposed District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) will be headed by the senior-most public representative—essentially an MLA or MLC—of the district. All other legislators, a representative of the state govt, members of Zila Panchayat, members of Kshetra Panchayat, all divisional development officers, district officials of the rural development department, and representatives of the lead bank will work as members of the committee. The chief development officer will be the secretary, while the district development officer will be the convener. According to a communique sent by the department of rural development to all CDOs, the committee would hold meetings quarterly and ensure the smooth implementation of the intended welfare programmes. It will have the mandate to investigate and initiate action in case of any anomalies in the selection of beneficiaries and alleged misuse of funds. Its recommendations may be addressed to senior district authorities, who would be required to take action within 30 days. Earlier, the rural development department, headed by Deputy CM Keshav Maurya, started organising Gram Chaupals in villages every Friday. In these village meetings, the officials meet the people and help them get the benefits of the various welfare programmes. The concept was essentially rooted in the idea of 'Gram Swaraj' mooted by the RSS, BJP's ideological fountainhead. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Experts said that the move to establish DLMCs potentially marks a deepening administrative role in rural Uttar Pradesh, particularly at a time when political stakes are rising ahead of the panchayat elections and 2027 state polls. This development is also seen as a strategic alignment of governance and electoral preparedness, leveraging welfare delivery. By involving local legislators and panchayat representatives in a structured role, the govt is not only empowering public representatives but also ensuring that the ruling party's face is visible in welfare delivery—a key consideration in rural electoral dynamics. Sources said that the DLMCs will aim to institutionalise accountability and transparency in the implementation of welfare schemes by involving a cross-section of stakeholders—from MLAs and MLCs to grassroots officials and banking representatives. This could foster better inter-departmental coordination and address long-standing issues like beneficiary exclusion, fund leakages, and bureaucratic apathy.
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gujarat CM felicitates newly elected Sarpanchs; emphasises cleanliness, development
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 4 (ANI): Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged newly elected sarpanchs and gram panchayat members to ensure visible cleanliness in villages. He announced that under PM Narendra Modi's vision of 'Swachhta Tya Prabhuta (Cleanliness is next to Godliness),' a mass movement for cleanliness has been launched across villages, towns, and cities. In this context, the Chief Minister made a significant announcement, stating that, guided by the principle of 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a nationwide people's movement aimed at maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across villages, towns, and cities. The state government currently allocates 4 per person per month for cleanliness in every village. Now, this amount will be doubled to 8 per person per month. As a result, the momentum for cleanliness in villages will increase significantly. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while encouraging the newly elected sarpanchs regarding village cleanliness, added that an inspiring environment should be created where every village competes in cleanliness and hygiene. At the felicitation ceremony organised by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel honoured the newly elected Sarpanchs and members. Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Rural Development Minister Raghavji Patel, Minister of State Kunwarji Halpati, along with other cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, and MLAs, were present on the occasion. While highlighting the role of the newly elected Sarpanchs and Panchayat members, the Chief Minister affirmed that they have earned the trust and confidence of the people. Emphasising the guiding mantra of 'Aapnu Gaam, Aapnu Gaurav' (Our Village, Our Pride), he urged them to serve as foundational pillars in driving the holistic development of their villages. He added that to achieve Gram Swaraj, the Prime Minister has handed over the power of collective village development to the Sarpanchs by offering a new direction of self-reliance through the politics of development. Not only that, he also introduced the novel concept of 'Samaras ' (consensus) in Gujarat. He expressed that, following this idea, a record-breaking 761 Gram Panchayats have become Samaras in this Gram Panchayat election. A total of 35 crore has been allocated through DBT as an incentive grant to such Samaras Gram Panchayats and an overall amount of 1,236 crore has been allocated for various developmental works. The Chief Minister stated that under the 11 years of good governance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rural development, economy, and infrastructure facilities have gained new momentum. He also mentioned that approximately 4 crore rural poor in the country have received housing, more than 2 lakh Gram Panchayats have been connected to the internet in a decade, and around 5.5 lakh Common Service Centers have become operational to provide government services to rural citizens. The Chief Minister emphasised the collaborative efforts of the double-engine governments and villages in planning development and expressed confidence in the vital role of sarpanchs in building Viksit Gujarat through Viksit Villages, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Congratulating the newly appointed sarpanchs and members, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil stated that the villagers have placed complete trust in them by entrusting the responsibility of their village's development. He emphasised that ensuring the holistic progress of the village, upholding democratic values, and contributing meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Gujarat are the moral responsibilities of every Sarpanch. Referring to the sarpanch as the Chief Minister of the village, the Union Jal Shakti Minister said that just as the Chief Minister bears full responsibility for the state, similarly, the Sarpanch holds complete responsibility for making the village prosperous. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has further empowered Panchayati Raj by providing more authority and grants to Gram Panchayats. The Union Minister laid special emphasis on boosting cleanliness, the Jal Jeevan Mission, and Jal Sanchay Abhiyan in villages. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 60 crore citizens of the country have begun using toilets. Additionally, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, more than 15.65 crore households in the country have received tap water supply, and by 2028, water is planned to be delivered to another 4 crore households. Emphasising the importance of the 'Catch the Rain' campaign, the Union Minister urged that it be given top priority. He noted that the Prime Minister has called for transforming the Jal Sanchay Abhiyan into a mass movement. As a remarkable outcome, over 32 lakh water conservation structures were created within just 8 hours. The Minister encouraged the newly appointed Sarpanchs to actively initiate water conservation efforts in every village, thereby accelerating the Jal Sanchay Abhiyan through collective public participation. On this occasion, Rural Development Minister Raghavji Patel stated that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is committed to realising the Prime Minister's vision of 'Suvidha Sheherni, Aatma Gamdano' (Urban amenities with the soul of villages). Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, efforts are ongoing to keep Gujarat at the forefront in every field. The successful implementation of various public welfare schemes, including the Gram Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachhata Abhiyan, MGNREGA, and E-Gram Vishwagram, has significantly enhanced the infrastructure and amenities in the state's rural areas. Sarpanchs of Samaras Gram Panchayats, as well as those from Gram Panchayats who performed excellently in various fields, were honoured with certificates of appreciation from dignitaries. The program was attended by various office bearers, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Principal Secretary of the Panchayat Department Milind Torwane, Development Commissioner Hitesh Koya, and a large number of newly elected Sarpanchs and members. (ANI)
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
When Gandhi meets Ambedkar: How higher education institutions can change our villages
Also written by Virendra Kumar Vijay and Vivek Kumar 'True India lies in its seven lakh villages,' Mahatma Gandhi once declared, envisioning Gram Swaraj — self-reliant, self-governed village republics — as the foundation of Indian democracy. In sharp contrast, B R Ambedkar, speaking in the Constituent Assembly, fiercely rejected such idealisation: 'What is the village,' he remarked, 'but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism?' For Gandhi, the village was the crucible of true independence; for Ambedkar, it was a site of deeply entrenched caste oppression. These two conflicting yet coexisting truths have long shaped India's rural imagination. It is within this contested terrain that the idea of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) took root, not as a top-down policy directive, but as a determined initiative by the faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), committed to sustainable rural development and the use of appropriate technology. A shared vision What began as a campus conversation gradually evolved into a national movement — shaped by higher education institutions, grassroots organisations, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and Union ministries of education and rural development, among others. The objective was to empower rural India through meaningful partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and villages. It also offered academia an opportunity to learn from the lived wisdom, resilience, and practices of rural communities — a symbiotic relationship nurturing both the village and the university. The Unnat Bharat Abhiyan was officially launched in November 2014 by the Ministry of Education. Coordinated by IIT Delhi, it encourages HEIs, designated as Participating Institutes (PIs), to engage with at least five villages each. To support this, a national ecosystem of 14 Subject Expert Groups and 50 Regional Coordinating Institutes provides technical guidance, mentorship, and capacity-building for impactful, sustainable, and context-specific interventions. In its early years, UBA selectively invited HEIs to join the initiative. By 2014–15, 170 PIs were working with 800 villages. The network grew rapidly. By 2017–18, 1,771 institutions engaged 7,893 villages. In April 2018, the programme was opened to all HEIs, significantly expanding its scale, reach, and impact. As of May 2025, 4,183 institutions are working with 19,783 villages across 35 states and union territories. To deepen impact, UBA has forged 18 strategic partnerships with key ministries — such as Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Tribal Affairs — and institutions including the National Cooperative Union of India, the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India, the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Rural Technology Action Group, among others. Transforming villages The HEIs are working closely with gram sabhas, elected representatives, district officials, and governments. The goal is to partner actively in shaping Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) and driving meaningful change from the ground up. Their work spans a wide spectrum — from promoting sustainable agriculture and clean energy to enhancing rural livelihoods, improving water and waste management, and facilitating effective implementation of government schemes, and more. The HEIs also help build skills, foster entrepreneurship, support startups, and expand digital literacy across villages. A quiet transformation is unfolding across India, delivering real, measurable change at the grassroots. For instance, in Haridwar's Gaindikhata cluster, IIT Delhi introduced lemongrass cultivation and set up an oil extraction unit, helping farmers earn Rs 8,000–10,000 per month during harvest. In Manipur, the NIT developed a low-cost water purifier providing clean drinking water to over 2,000 villagers previously reliant on a contaminated pond. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand's Chene village, a quiet revival is underway. With support from Jharkhand Rai University, the community has returned to millet farming and established a seed bank to preserve indigenous varieties and ensure long-term food security. Such collaborative, community-driven initiatives blend scientific innovation with local wisdom, proving that real change grows from the ground up. What sets the UBA apart is its emphasis on Village Adhyayan (village study) through Participatory Learning and Action, a people-first, bottom-up way to understand and engage communities. The UBA envisions a shift in how development is practised: Not by imposing top-down solutions, but by listening to and building on the needs and aspirations of rural people themselves. Its core belief is simple yet powerful. Development must serve the people, not sideline or marginalise them. Transforming higher education Through sustained, meaningful engagement, the UBA is redefining higher education's role in India. The programme urges academia to move beyond classrooms and labs, engaging directly with rural life through grounded, empathetic, and socially relevant research. The UBA aims to foster stronger, self-reliant communities while nurturing scholars attuned to rural realities and aspirations. Here, the village is not merely a site for fieldwork or theoretical inquiry; it becomes a dynamic space for collaborative, action-oriented research, where knowledge and solutions are co-created through active community participation. Rural knowledge, lived experiences, and community priorities are no longer peripheral; they actively shape learning, research, and knowledge production within institutions. In its first decade, the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan has made important strides. But much more remains to harness India's vast academic network — over 1,000 universities and more than 42,000 colleges — to engage meaningfully with rural India, where two-thirds of the population lives across more than six lakh villages. Bridging the rural–urban divide demands sustained, equal partnerships between universities and communities. In its second decade, the UBA aims to rapidly expand its reach, especially in remote areas. Only then can we build rural futures rooted in Gandhian self-reliance and Ambedkar's vision of justice and dignity for all. The writers teach at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and coordinate the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
