Haridwar, October 8, 2026: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended a one-day orientation and training programme for elected representatives of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Haridwar.
He said empowered panchayats are the foundation of a developed Uttarakhand. Connecting more than 60,000 Panchayat representatives with training simultaneously across all development blocks is an important effort to give rural development a new direction.
Panchayats as a Link with Citizens
Dhami described Panchayat representatives as an important link in democracy and a bridge between the government and citizens. Since they understand local problems closely, they play a decisive role in ensuring that government schemes reach the last person.
He urged representatives to work with the spirit of “My village, my responsibility” and ensure that every eligible person receives information about and access to government welfare schemes.
Local Needs in Development Plans
The Chief Minister said Panchayats are being strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership through greater access to resources, infrastructure and modern technology. The state government is working in the same direction.
Under the Jan Yojana Abhiyan, launched on October 2, development plans are being prepared at the village, block and district Panchayat levels.
He directed Panchayats to give priority to:
- Local needs.
- Public suggestions.
- Available resources.
- Clear targets and timelines.
- Measurable outcomes.
Each Panchayat should prepare plans that reflect local requirements and ensure that development work produces tangible benefits for rural residents.
Basic Services Must Be Prioritised
Dhami said every Panchayat development plan should clearly include drinking water, roads, sanitation, education and healthcare.
He asked representatives to seek public suggestions through Gram Sabhas and regularly review project progress. They must also verify which families are actually receiving the benefits of government schemes, with special priority given to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Digital and Transparent Panchayats
The Chief Minister said more than 56,000 Panchayat representatives were trained in 2025–26.
Of Uttarakhand’s 7,817 Gram Panchayats, 5,972 Panchayat buildings are functioning as Gram Sachivalayas. In the past five years, 1,362 Panchayat buildings have been constructed and 584 repaired. More than 1,000 Gram Panchayats have also been computerised.
Through the e-Gram Swaraj portal, Panchayats are recording work plans, financial and physical progress, and geotagging of development projects.
Dhami said the goal of digital Panchayats is to make administration transparent, simple and effective. Public money must be accounted for publicly, he said, adding that the impact of development work matters more than the number of projects completed.
He directed representatives to pay particular attention to road quality, the usefulness of drinking-water projects and the services delivered through Panchayat buildings.
Clean and Self-Reliant Villages
Dhami said Panchayats have a crucial role in creating clean and healthy villages. District Panchayats have been provided waste-collection machines for cleaning rural roads and local markets, while special machines have also been installed at the block level.
He urged representatives to link cleanliness with public participation and ensure regular sanitation in villages.
The government is also working to strengthen the rural economy by promoting:
- Self-help groups.
- Women’s entrepreneurship.
- Agriculture and horticulture.
- Local products.
- Tourism.
- Rural employment and self-employment.
Dhami said increasing village-level opportunities and reducing migration are key priorities. He also highlighted the 30% horizontal reservation for women in government jobs and called for equal attention to preserving the cultural heritage of villages.
Quality and Accountability
The Chief Minister urged Panchayat representatives to ensure quality, timely completion and accountability in every development project.
He expressed confidence that representatives would use the knowledge gained through the training to make Panchayats clean, prosperous and self-reliant, giving fresh momentum to rural development and helping fulfil the vision of a developed Uttarakhand.
Cabinet ministers, legislators, Panchayat representatives, district officials, block-level representatives and senior administrative officers attended the programme.
