Latest news with #PRIs
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Modi hails Nitish for championing women's participation in PRIs
1 2 3 Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised CM Nitish Kumar for empowering women and marginalised communities through Bihar's three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). "We have seen how panchayats have empowered participation from different social groups. Bihar is the first state in the country to provide 50% reservation to women in the PRIs. And, for this, I congratulate Nitishji," said Modi while addressing the National Panchayati Raj Day function at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, CM Nitish Kumar and Union panchayati raj minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, shared the dais as the PM offered his commendations. "Today, a very large number of sisters and daughters from poor, dalit, mahadalit, backward and extremely backward communities are serving as public representatives in Bihar's PRIs. This is true social justice, this is true social participation," Modi added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He added that democracy thrives through the inclusion of diverse communities. "With this thought in mind, a law for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assembly has also been made. Women across the country will benefit from this. Our sisters and daughters will gain more representation in legislative bodies," he said. Highlighting the govt's mission-mode approach to boosting women's income and employment opportunities, Modi lauded the impact of Bihar's 'Jeevika Didi' initiative, highlighting its transformative effect on women's lives. "Self-help groups of women in Bihar have received financial assistance amounting to nearly Rs 1,000 crore. This will further strengthen the economic empowerment of women and support our goal of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis across the country," he said, lauding one of Nitish's flagship programmes.
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opinion What the Panchayat Devolution Index reveals about strengthening local governance
My visit to a remote tribal village during a visioning exercise with community institutions changed my perspectives on Panchayat administration. The leaders of village SHGs (self-help groups) engaged in discussions to improve basic facilities – something often taken for granted in urban areas – made me think differently. Each of India's six lakh villages is unique, shaped by geography, people, and history. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment of 1992 acknowledged this diversity, creating a new governance structure with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), empowering communities to plan, decide, and act. The Panchayat Devolution Report 2024 The Ministry of Panchayati Raj's 2024 report on 'Devolution to Panchayats in States: An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking' offers a rare, honest lens into the state of decentralisation across India. Beyond the numbers, the report evaluates the autonomy and empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by assessing the devolution of powers, resources, and decision-making autonomy. The core idea of the report is that for Panchayats to govern effectively, they need three key pillars: Functions, funds, and functionaries. The index evaluates states across six dimensions: Framework, functions, finances, functionaries, capacity building, and accountability. While the report shows devolution to rural local bodies increased from 39.9 per cent (2013–14) to 43.9 per cent (2021–22), the variation across dimensions is striking. The 'Functionaries Index' rose from 39.6 per cent to 50.9 per cent, with improvements in infrastructure, staffing, and digitalisation. Capacity building rose from 44 per cent to 54.6 per cent, aided by programmes like Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). However, functional devolution dropped from 35.34 per cent to 29.18 per cent, showing that many Panchayats still lack control over core services. • The top five States in the overall rankings are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh • Kerala performed better in the 'Framework' dimension, while Karnataka scored highest in 'Financial' devolution and 'Accountability'. • Tamil Nadu tops in Functions while Gujarat leads in Functionary capacity • Surprisingly, Puducherry, a UT, has not held Panchayat elections since 2006—an alarming breach of constitutional obligations. A striking finding is that though Panchayats are expected to play crucial roles in 28 major schemes, financial allocations are minimal or unclear. The report highlights the rise of 13 parallel bodies bypassing Panchayats, diluting their constitutional role. Basic functions like birth registration, waste management, and sanitation are often excluded from Panchayat responsibilities in many state-level Acts, raising concerns about the integrity of self-governance. Status of PRI finances The financial picture is mixed. Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu lead with regular SFC-based transfers, while Assam, Goa, and Jharkhand fall below the national average. Most Panchayats rely on grants, with over 95 per cent of funds coming from the Union and state governments, according to the RBI report. Local tax generation remains negligible (1 per cent or less), limiting PRIs' fiscal autonomy. There is also insufficient provision for operation and maintenance costs or funds to maintain assets under schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Ground-level insights Being a development design organisation working to transform India's bottom 100,000 villages into flourishing communities, Transform Rural India's (TRI) experience shows that Panchayats can become powerful platforms for community-led governance if meaningfully enabled. These institutions offer citizens space to deliberate on everyday issues. In many villages, despite incomplete devolution, we've seen transformational shifts when community-based organisations (CBOs) complement Panchayats, supporting and holding them accountable. This synergy has created productive space for frontline workers and service providers, especially in health, nutrition, education, and markets. However, such actions require Panchayats to be functional, resourceful, and autonomous. Sadly, inadequate delegation, symbolic authority, and excessive state control through procedural bottlenecks still limit their potential. Proxy leadership and limited space for elected SC/ST and women representatives must be addressed. Despite constitutional guarantees, many elected women representatives (EWRs) lack the agency, authority, and support to lead effectively. In our state consultations, the need to modernise outdated laws on own-source revenue repeatedly came up. Also, many states still follow old tax rules. From representation to real power Weak devolution hampers progress in health, nutrition, sanitation, and education, where local knowledge and quick decisions are essential. Without clear roles, accountability, trained staff, or financial control, Panchayats often remain symbolic despite having physical infrastructure. They are meant to foster democratic engagement, but without functions, funds, and functionaries, they cannot fulfil this role effectively. The 2024 Devolution Report calls for urgent action to give Panchayats real authority over basic services, planning, and implementation. Empowerment must go beyond representation. Programs like Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan, a nationwide effort to train 1.4 million EWRs, are a step forward. Developed with TRI's support, it uses simulations, case studies, and leadership training to strengthen grassroots governance.
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
National Panchayati Raj Day 2025: Date, origin, significance — all you need to know
National Panchayati Raj Day 2025: India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 every year to mark the foundation of the Panchayati Raj System — a landmark law which granted constitutional status to its institutions. This law enabled local governments or Gram Panchayats to govern themselves and make decisions on the development of their districts. It is being commemorated today, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, marking the thirty-second anniversary of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.' The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992, which officially took effect on April 24, 1993, granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), marking an important milestone in the history of political authority decentralisation at the grassroots level. READ | Ending proxy leadership in panchayati raj is a necessary disruption towards true grassroots democracy It was in reaction to the need for democracy, which was led by a committee headed by Balwantrai Mehta to accomplish this goal. Furthermore, the system of governance of India's villages is also reflected in one of Mahatma Gandhi's major beliefs, with him frequently advocating for the establishment of a Panchayati Raj system. On it, Gandhi stated, with the quote referred to from a 1946 issue of the Harijan magazine. Independence must mean that of the people of India, not of those who are today ruling over them… Independence must begin at the bottom. Thus, every village will be a republic or panchayat having full powers. It follows, therefore, that every village has to be self-sustained and capable of managing its affairs even to the extent of defending itself against the whole world This year, National Panchayati Raj Day 2025 will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lohna Uttar Gramme Panchayat, Jhanjharpur Block, Madhubani District, Bihar. National Panchayati Raj Day programme in Madhubani, Bihar. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2025 It is being marked as a major national programme with a ' whole-of-government ' approach, with the participation of six Union ministries. The Prime Minister will address Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Gramme Sabhas across the country, in addition to presenting the Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi to visit Bihar's Madhubani today to launch various development projects worth Rs 13,480 crore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and gram sabhas across the country today, from Bihar's Madhubani district, marking National Panchayati Raj Day. The PM's address, to be held in Lohna Uttar Gram Panchayat under Jhanjharpur block, is expected to begin at 11.45 am. According to a press communique issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate a slew of development projects worth Rs 13,480 crore during his visit. In addition, PM Modi will flag off the Amrit Bharat Express and the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail on the occasion. He will also confer the Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025. However, as a mark of respect following the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, there will be no ceremonial felicitation of the Prime Minister or other dignitaries during the event. A native of Bihar's Rohtas district, Manish Ranjan—an Intelligence Bureau official posted in Hyderabad—was among those killed in the attack. This is PM Modi's first visit to any state since the Pahalgam terror strike, and his second since February this year. His visit to Madhubani, located in the culturally significant Mithilanchal region, comes months ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar, scheduled for October-November. Political observers view the visit as an attempt to consolidate voter support for the NDA, which secured 60 per cent of seats in north Bihar during the 2020 assembly elections. The Election Commission has already begun preparations, with a two-day training and capacity-building programme for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from Bihar commencing on Wednesday. Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in Madhubani and neighbouring districts. Personnel from the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have been deployed in the region to monitor the activities of sleeper cell operatives. A senior police officer said, 'Security agencies are ready to deal with any exigency. Search operation has been launched in Madhubani and Darbhanga districts as part of the policing. The two neighbouring districts have a history of providing shelter to operatives of sleeper cells of various terror groups.'
Mint
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
PM Modi in Bihar's Madhubani today. What's on the agenda?
PM Modi in Bihar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and gram sabhas across the country at an event at Bihar's Madhubani today, April 24. The prime minister will also launch several projects worth approximately ₹ 13,500 crore on the occasion. Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion in what is going to be his first public remarks following the ghastly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Bihar is going to have assembly elections later this year. Modi is expected to reach Lohna Uttar Gram panchayat in Jhanjharpur block of Madhubani district in Bihar and participate in the event organised on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day at around 11:45 AM, according to a government press communique. The event marks 32 years of the 73rd Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to panchayats as institutions of rural local self-government. The Prime Minister's Office said in a separate statement that Modi will also flag off Amrit Bharat Express and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail in Bihar. The prime minister will address PRIs and gram sabhas across the country and also confer Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025 on this occasion. Another programme of Modi, scheduled to be held in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, has been cancelled in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack where 26 people, mostly tourist, were gunned down. This year, the National Panchayati Raj Day is being observed as a major national programme through a 'Whole-of-Government' approach, involving the participation of six Union ministries – Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Railways, and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', and Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha will be among those present at the event, besides senior officials from the Union and the state government. -PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant and rail unloading facility to be built at Hathua in Gopalganj district of Bihar at a cost of about ₹ 340 crore, the government statement said. This will help streamline the supply chain and improve the efficiency of bulk LPG transportation. -Modi will lay the foundation stone of projects worth over ₹ 1,170 crore in Bihar and also inaugurate several projects worth over ₹ 5,030 crore under the Restructured Distribution Sector Scheme. -Modi will flag off Amrut Bharat Express between Saharsa and Mumbai , Namo Bharat Rapid Rail between Jaynagar and Patna, and trains between Pipra and Saharsa and Saharsa and Samastipur. -Modi will also inaugurate the Supaul Pipra Rail Line , Hasanpur Bithan Rail Line and two 2-lane Rail Over Bridges at Chhapra and Bagaha. He will dedicate the Khagaria-Alauliya Rail Line to the nation. These projects will improve connectivity and lead to overall socio-economic development of the region. -Modi will distribute Community Investment Fund benefits worth about ₹ 930 crore to over 2 lakh self-help groups of Bihar under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). -PM Modi will hand over approval letters to 15 lakh new beneficiaries of PMAY-Gramin and release instalments to 10 lakh PMAY-G beneficiaries across the country. He will also hand over keys to some beneficiaries, marking Griha Pravesh of 1 lakh PMAY-G and 54,000 PMAY-U houses in Bihar. First Published: 24 Apr 2025, 06:14 AM IST
