Dr Virendra Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development.
District-Level Panchayat Conference in Yamunanagar Focuses on Rural Development, Public Participation, Transparency and Effective Implementation of Schemes
YAMUNANAGAR / PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
The vision of a developed India can become a reality only through the development of villages and the strengthening of grassroots democratic institutions, said Dr Virendra Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development.
Dr Chauhan was addressing a district-level Panchayat Conference organised at the District Council building in Yamunanagar through an online session. The conference focused on strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions, improving public participation in development programmes and ensuring that government schemes are implemented effectively at the village level.
Dr Chauhan said Panchayat representatives have a crucial responsibility in ensuring that development schemes reach the people for whom they are intended. He urged elected representatives to identify the actual requirements of their respective villages and give priority to development works accordingly.
He emphasised that public participation should remain at the centre of rural development. According to him, when villagers are actively involved in identifying priorities and monitoring development works, the implementation of schemes becomes more effective and transparent.
Dr Chauhan said the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025, as described during the conference, represents an important step towards giving a new direction to rural development. He said the provisions discussed at the conference were aimed at strengthening employment opportunities, creation of durable community assets, transparency and effective implementation of rural development programmes.
He urged Panchayat representatives to understand the provisions of the legislation and communicate the relevant information to villagers. Awareness among rural residents, he said, would help eligible families make better use of government programmes and ensure that development initiatives produce meaningful results on the ground.
Dr Chauhan also highlighted the employment provisions discussed during the conference. He said the employment guarantee under the earlier MGNREGA framework had been increased from 100 days to 125 days, while provision had also been made for wage payments on a weekly basis or, at the latest, within 15 days.
He stressed that Panchayat representatives should ensure that eligible rural families are aware of such provisions and understand the procedures for accessing the benefits available to them.
According to Dr Chauhan, strong Panchayats are the foundation of self-reliant villages. He said that when village-level institutions function effectively, development programmes can be implemented according to local needs while improving accountability and transparency.
He added that the progress of villages would ultimately contribute to achieving the broader national objective of a developed India.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Navin Ahuja said Panchayat representatives play an important role in taking rural development schemes to the last person in the village.
He said greater awareness about government programmes and their effective implementation can accelerate development work in rural areas. He urged Panchayat representatives to remain familiar with the schemes applicable to their villages so that residents can receive timely information and assistance.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jaswinder Singh said empowered Panchayats form the foundation of a strong rural administrative system. He emphasised that active participation by Panchayat representatives can make development schemes more effective and responsive to local requirements.
Sub-Divisional Officer Naresh Dhillon said knowledge of new schemes and their provisions would enable Panchayat representatives to plan and execute development works more effectively according to the specific needs of their respective areas.
He said elected representatives at the grassroots level are in a strong position to understand local challenges and communicate those requirements to the administration.
Additional Block Programme Officer Manoj Kumar said the primary objective of the district-level Panchayat Conference was to provide Panchayat representatives with practical information about the provisions of the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025, as well as the effective implementation of rural development schemes.
He said such conferences can help strengthen coordination between Panchayat representatives and government departments while providing elected representatives with greater clarity about the procedures and provisions connected with rural development programmes.
The conference also provided an opportunity for Panchayat representatives to discuss the practical aspects of implementing development schemes at the village level.
Representatives were briefed on issues relating to employment, development works, creation of durable assets and transparency in the implementation of government programmes. The emphasis remained on ensuring that schemes are translated into tangible benefits for rural residents.
A large number of Panchayat representatives from Yamunanagar district attended the conference. Panches, Sarpanches, Panchayat Samiti members, Gram Sachivs, Executive Engineers, Additional Block Programme Officers, Junior Engineers and officials and employees from various departments were among those present.
During the conference, Panchayat representatives sought information about the provisions of the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025 and the practical mechanisms through which rural development schemes can be implemented more effectively.
The discussions also underlined the importance of coordination between elected Panchayat representatives and government officials. Such coordination, officials said, can help identify local priorities, reduce delays and improve the delivery of development programmes.
The conference concluded with an emphasis on greater public participation, stronger Panchayati Raj institutions and transparent implementation of rural development initiatives.
Officials and Panchayat representatives reiterated the importance of ensuring that development programmes reach eligible beneficiaries and that village-level priorities remain central to planning.
The administration said that informed and active Panchayat representatives can play an important role in creating stronger villages and improving governance at the grassroots level.
