AUG 07: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) organized a National Consultative Workshop on the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together senior officials from States/UTs’ Panchayati Raj Departments and State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs) to strategize for the next phase of the scheme.
Inaugurating the workshop, MoPR Secretary Shri Vivek Bharadwaj underscored the importance of feedback from the grassroots in shaping the future of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). He highlighted that Panchayats should not just be viewed as implementers but as equal partners in governance, emphasizing institutional responsiveness, transparency, and inclusive participation.
Additional Secretary Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani noted that as the current phase concludes in 2025, the workshop aimed to build consensus for a strengthened RGSA to be launched in 2026. He outlined how RGSA has enhanced Panchayat functioning through training, capacity building, and digital governance tools like the eGramSwaraj Portal, which has streamlined processes from planning to payment.
Key achievements, such as the Panchayat Advancement Index, were also showcased. This tool supports data-driven improvements and identifies systemic gaps. Detailed presentations elaborated on funding norms and institutional support mechanisms under RGSA.
Participants engaged in group discussions covering critical areas—Capacity Building, Infrastructure, Institutional Mechanisms, PESA Implementation, and Special Components. States shared innovations, challenges, and recommendations to improve Panchayat governance.
The consultative inputs will guide the upcoming phase of RGSA, aimed at building efficient, accountable, and development-driven PRIs aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
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