As part of celebration of National Panchayat Raj Awards week (17^th – 21^st April 2023), thematic conference on “Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat, Socially Just & Socially Secured Panchayat and Panchayat with Good Governance” was held in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by Shri Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the presence of Smt. Mamta Verma, Joint Secretary (FD), Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary (Governance), Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Shri (Dr.) Bijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Shri Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj emphasized on the importance of recognizing the good work done by the awardee Panchayats at State, District and Block level.

Shri Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj recognized the efforts by all participating Panchayats and emphasized on the importance of recognizing the good work done by the awardee Panchayats at State, District and Block level. “The localization of SDG has become a national movement wherein participation of citizens/ communities (Janbhaagidari), Sarpanch, Panchayat Secretaries and other stakeholders is of utmost importance. The Panchayat secretaries have to be forthcoming in engaging with Sarpanch and citizens to achieve the thematic Sustainable Development Goals”, he added.

He also highlighted that the winning Panchayats must strive to maintain their position through further leveraging on their position and other Panchayats must come forward by gaining from the experience. Recognizing the efforts of Panchayats as a third tier of Governance, i.e., Local Self Government, after Central and State level is significant and Ministry of Panchayati Raj is committed to empowering the grass root level.

The elected representatives from award winning Panchayats shared their experiences in the thematic areas of Poverty free and enhanced livelihood, Socially Secured Panchayats and Panchayats with Good Governance in realizing the SDGs, key achievements, measures taken to overcome challenges they faced viz. extensive IEC activities, conducting Gram Sabhas, establishment of SHGs, home to home survey of beneficiaries, implementation and monitoring of govt. scheme, among others and roadmap for sustainability viz Gram Sankalp, formation of various thematic committees, awareness creation, grievance redressal and handholding mechanism among others.

In addition to this, Sarpanchs/ Pradhans from other Panchayats across States were also provided an opportunity to share their experiences and the development works carried out in their respective Panchayats with the audience. Distinguished speakers from the thematic domains moderated the sessions. Shri Sajith Sukumaran, COO, Kudumbashree moderated Poverty Free & Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayats, Dr. Chandrashekhar Pran, Founder, Teesri Sarkar Abhiyan moderated session on Socially Secured Panchayats and Professor Shyam Singh, IRMA moderated session on Panchayat with Good Governance.

The conference served as a platform for cross learning among states and provided roadmap for panchayats to realize the goals of localization of SDGs. During the conference, more than 800 participants from all States and UTs, Elected Representatives from Panchayats, National Panchayat Award winners, Officials from State / UT Panchayati Raj Departments and faculty-members of NIRD&PR and SIRD&PRs and various organizations from Development Sector were present.

      

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