Gram panchayats are the soul of rural development, not mere administrative units: CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening gram panchayats as the driving force of rural development. He called for innovation, transparency, and the effective use of local resources to make them economically self-reliant.

Chairing a review meeting of the Panchayati Raj Department on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said, “Gram panchayats are not just administrative units; they are the soul of rural development.”

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According to details shared in the meeting, several reform measures are underway to boost the self-funding capacity of panchayats. The collection of local taxes and user charges has been digitised, and new initiatives are being developed to enhance their revenue. The Chief Minister said that transparency and technology must go hand in hand to improve both revenue generation and public service quality.

Highlighting the importance of technical expertise, the CM directed that each district panchayat be equipped with a civil engineer or architect to ensure quality in local construction and map approval processes.

In a major step toward financial empowerment, the Chief Minister also instructed officials to set up Aadhaar centers in village secretariats, enabling services like Aadhaar card creation, updates, and biometric verification. The fee collected from these services, he said, would provide an additional source of income for Panchayats while enhancing citizen convenience.

It was also informed that the Panchayati Raj Department is formulating a comprehensive pond listing and utilisation policy. CM Adityanath directed that ponds under Panchayat control be leased out on time, with the revenue used exclusively for tap water supply, water conservation, and rural welfare projects.

Emphasising capacity-building, the Chief Minister directed training programmes for Panchayat representatives in financial management, digital governance, and utility operations.

Concluding the meeting, he said, “The prosperity of gram panchayats is the foundation of a self-reliant India. Every panchayat should become a model of service, cleanliness, and self-reliance.”