Self-Reliant Panchayats to drive India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat: Shri Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Self-Reliant Panchayats to drive India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat: Shri Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Outreach Workshop on Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme Held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Posted On: 09 JUN 2026 6:59PM by PIB Ahmedabad

An Outreach Workshop on the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme was organised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Gujarat, in Gandhinagar on June 9, 2026.

The workshop brought together senior government officials, representatives of financial institutions, and participants from across Gujarat. More than 100 participants attended the workshop in person, while over 300 joined virtually. The participants included 78 Panchayat representatives, among them distinguished performers in Own Source Revenue (OSR) generation from their respective Gram Panchayats.

Delivering the keynote address, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, outlined the vision of Atmanirbhar Panchayats and their role in advancing the long-term national goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat. He emphasised the transformative potential of grassroots governance and stated that this vision can be realised through self-reliant and empowered Panchayats. He underlined that Panchayats are pivotal agents of national transformation, uniquely positioned to raise awareness among citizens and drive coordinated collective efforts towards building self-sufficient communities.

He urged Panchayat leaders to think innovatively and act decisively to create meaningful and lasting impact in their regions, noting that true leadership is defined by the legacy one leaves behind. He stressed the importance of adopting the right perspective to unlock new opportunities for growth and development, inspiring participants to view themselves as catalysts of change in shaping empowered, resilient, and self-reliant Panchayats that contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Shri Dhananjay Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department, Government of Gujarat, underlined that India’s journey towards self-reliance is deeply rooted in financially empowered Gram Panchayats. He stressed the need to enhance Own Source Revenue, reduce dependency on grants, and ensure the efficient utilisation of government funds. While acknowledging Gujarat’s progress, he called for greater innovation, strategic planning, and the adoption of best practices. He encouraged Sarpanches to learn from high-performing Panchayats and replicate successful models, emphasising that good governance begins with local ownership, accountability, and active community participation.

In his welcome address, Dr. Gaurav Dahiya, Additional Development Commissioner, Government of Gujarat, highlighted the critical importance of strengthening Own Source Revenue and encouraged Panchayat representatives to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches for effective local governance. Drawing parallels with Gujarat’s municipal corporations, which have established robust budgeting and revenue systems, he stressed the need for Panchayats to evolve into financially empowered institutions of local self-governance.

Dr. Pradeep Parate, General Manager, NABARD, Gujarat, affirmed that the vision of Viksit Bharat recognises rural communities as indispensable partners in national development. He commended the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for its consistent efforts to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Local Bodies across the country. He emphasized the need for coordinated institutional action to transform Panchayats into strong drivers of economic growth and self-reliance. He also extended NABARD’s support to Gram Panchayats in developing viable, revenue-generating projects that can enhance local economic development and financial sustainability.

Addressing the Outreach Workshop, Shri Vimal Kumar, Regional Chief, HUDCO, Ahmedabad, reiterated HUDCO’s commitment to supporting Panchayati Raj Institutions through technical assistance, capacity building, and infrastructure development.

The technical team from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj presented the detailed framework of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme and conducted a live demonstration of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Portal. The session provided an end-to-end walkthrough of the application workflows and dashboards, equipping participants with practical insights for the effective digital implementation and operationalisation of the programme.

The Outreach Workshop featured an interactive question-and-answer session. Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, interacted with participants in the presence of senior officials from the Gujarat Panchayati Raj Department. The session provided a platform to address queries, discuss proposals, and facilitate constructive dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Smt. Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Shri D. N. Modi, Development Commissioner, Government of Gujarat, were also present on the occasion.

The workshop served as a significant platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and capacity building towards achieving self-reliant, vibrant, and financially empowered Panchayats across the country.

Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme

The Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme is designed to support eligible Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats in developing and implementing financially viable and bankable projects that strengthen their Own Source Revenue (OSR). Through a transparent national challenge process, selected Panchayat proposals will receive dedicated technical assistance from project development through to financial closure. Support will include facilitation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, bank finance, and convergence with government schemes.

Community participation is ensured through mandatory Gram Sabha consent, with project ideas originating from the Panchayats themselves and technical assistance helping transform selected proposals into bankable projects. Over its four-year implementation period, the Programme aspires to build a new generation of self-reliant and economically confident Panchayats, demonstrating that financial independence and good local governance go hand in hand.

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