https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Reactivating Panchayat Secretariats in Bastar

Indian Masterminds Stories

Recognising the vital role of panchayats in scaling up the pace of development in a district, Bastar Collector Chandan Kumar has been taking steps towards their empowerment. The Chhattisgarh Panchayati Raj Act has a provision for ‘Panchayat Secretariat’ in every panchayat. Till now, it only existed in paper but with the Collector’s intervention, the practice has been started again in Bastar. These regular meetings provide an opportunity to the general public to come with their problems to the Panchayat functionaries and get redressal.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, District Collector Chandan Kumar spoke about how the Panchayat Secretariat was made active once again in Bastar. 

FORUM WHERE CITIZENS CAN ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS 

Just like there is a Collectorate at the district level and a Secretariat at the state level, the Panchayat Secretariat has been established to solve the problems at the village level. There are 433 panchayats in Bastar district and their secretariat was inoperative till recently. 

The district administration decided to make it active once again and started an exercise where all the village level functionaries like the Panchayat Secretary, Patwari, Anganwadi workers, etc., have to gather together in the panchayat office on scheduled days. Every panchayat has been assigned one day a week for this meeting. 

Anyone with problems related to any government schemes, pension, ration card, MANREGA, etc., can go to the meeting and demand redressal. Most of the cases related to pension or ration card have to be solved there and then. The problems which require budgets of Rs. 10-15 lakhs have to be brought to the notice of the district administration for action. 

Mr. Kumar said, “Most people in the villages have small issues. Those who have means and money approach the Collectorate or block for redressal, but others are left behind. This should not be the situation. So, we are focusing on strengthening the Panchayat Secretariat and provide a forum to the people where they can assert their rights and held someone accountable.”

He also added that the government schemes are designed in the best manner but they usually fail in the last mile at the delivery point, which is the panchayat. Hence, the district administration of Bastar is focusing on providing a system for the people, where their problems can be heard and resolved in no time. 

PUTTING A MONITORING SYSTEM IN PLACE 

Without proper monitoring, any programme or campaign has a fair chance to fail. Hence, the Bastar district administration is trying to devise a proper monitoring system to monitor these meetings. As of now, some district level officers and block officers have been appointed as nodal officers and deployed to specific panchayats. 

“They visit the Secretariat on scheduled days and take a report on the meetings. Whether people are coming to attend them or not. Are people aware about the meetings? Are the interactions between the functionaries and the public healthy?” Mr. Kumar said.

He added that the whole idea is to reach out to the general public and restore their confidence in government and public bodies. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT