Gandhinagar: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organise an outreach workshop on the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme in Gandhinagar on June 9, aiming to strengthen financial self-reliance among Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader push to empower local governance bodies under the vision of sustainable and self-sufficient rural development.
Key Officials and Participants
The workshop will be attended by senior officials including:
- Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary
- Dhananjay Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Gujarat Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department
- Gaurav Dahiya, Additional Development Commissioner
Representatives from NABARD, HUDCO, senior state officials, and Panchayat representatives will also participate.
Hybrid Mode Participation for Wider Reach
The workshop will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing:
- Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats near Gandhinagar to attend physically
- Other Panchayats across Gujarat to join virtually via video conferencing
This structure is designed to ensure maximum participation from grassroots institutions.
Objectives of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme
The workshop aims to familiarise Panchayat leaders with the vision, goals, and implementation framework of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme.
Key focus areas include:
- Promoting financial independence of Panchayats
- Encouraging revenue-generating local projects
- Strengthening grassroots governance
Officials will also provide a live demonstration of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Portal.
Interactive Sessions and Technical Roadmap
The programme will feature:
- Address by the Secretary on the initiative’s vision
- Presentations on policy objectives and implementation strategy
- Technical roadmap for project development
- Interactive Q&A session with participants
Experts from NABARD and HUDCO will explain available financial and institutional support mechanisms.
Focus on Revenue-Generating Local Projects
Under the initiative, Panchayats are encouraged to propose projects that generate income by utilising local assets and untapped resources.
Selected projects will receive:
- Technical assistance for feasibility and planning
- Support to develop bankable project models
- Access to funding via PPP, CSR, bank loans, and government scheme convergence
Eligibility Criteria for Participation
The programme defines eligibility criteria for Panchayats:
- Gram Panchayats must have a minimum Own Source Revenue (OSR) of ₹50 lakh
- Block Panchayats must have OSR of ₹1 crore
- At least three years of remaining tenure is required
These criteria are part of the challenge-based selection process under the scheme.
Strengthening Grassroots Governance Under RGSA
The initiative is implemented under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and aims to build a new generation of self-reliant Panchayats capable of driving local economic development.
Community participation through Gram Sabhas will remain a central pillar in planning and execution.
The upcoming workshop in Gandhinagar reflects the government’s focus on empowering rural institutions through financial independence, innovation, and structured capacity building. With institutional support from NABARD and HUDCO, the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme aims to transform Panchayats into sustainable engines of local development.
