Hyderabad, May 1: An official announced on Friday that Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary of Panchayati Raj, will initiate discussions on the Self-Reliant Panchayat program, a visionary initiative under the National Grameen Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), on Saturday.
According to the statement, the workshop will take place at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR) in Rajendra Nagar, where the Secretary will familiarize participants with the program’s vision, objectives, and operational framework.
The workshop will be inaugurated by Bhardwaj in the presence of Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Ministry, M. Dana Kishore, Special Chief Secretary of the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department of Telangana, other senior officials from the state government, faculty members of NIRD & PR, and senior officials from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), along with Panchayat representatives and officials from across Telangana.
The statement indicated that Bhardwaj is expected to present the vision of the Self-Reliant Panchayat program, followed by a detailed presentation on the objectives of the national policy, technical roadmap, and expected outcomes.
A live demonstration of the Self-Reliant Panchayat portal will familiarize participants with the application process and digital dashboard, making the process accessible and transparent for Panchayats at all levels.
Furthermore, the statement mentioned that an interactive question-and-answer session would provide all stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the ministry and gain clarity on participation.
The state of Telangana will also clarify its commitments and priorities under this program, laying the foundation for an active partnership between the center and the state.
Public sector organizations like HUDCO and NABARD are supporting the program by offering their expertise and potential financial assistance in rural project development.
The Self-Reliant Panchayat program is designed to assist eligible Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats in developing and implementing economically viable and bankable projects, strengthening their own revenue sources.
Through a transparent national challenge process, selected proposals from Panchayats will receive dedicated technical assistance from project development to financial closure, including public-private partnerships, CSR funding, bank financing, and coordination with other government schemes.
Community participation in the planning will be ensured through mandatory consent from Gram Sabhas.
Ideas will come from the Panchayats, and technical assistance will develop winning ideas into bankable projects.
The statement also noted that during the four-year implementation period of this program, the aim is to create a new generation of self-reliant and economically confident Panchayats, each serving as a living example that financial independence and good governance go hand in hand.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
