The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organizing a two-day National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop at National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) in Hyderabad on 4^th and 5^th September, 2023 to deliberate upon emerging and pressing issues of Panchayats and the roadmap/way ahead for enabling Panchayats as “Change Makers” or “Agents of Change”. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Sunil Kumar, Director General, NIRD&PR, Dr. G. Narendra Kumar and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar during the inaugural session, with a focus on the theme “Emerging Panchayat Issues” highlighting the Need for Stakeholder Consultative Workshop, Panchayat Development Plan, School of Excellence and Vision 2047 among other relevant key issues.

The sprawling campus of NIRD&PR, Hyderabad amidst lush greenery will host two-day National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop, which will bring together senior officers of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and State/UT Departments of Panchayati Raj, faculty-members of NIRD&PR and State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs), field-experts, representatives of community-based organizations, elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions from across the country and other stakeholders to discuss the emerging issues and come up with actionable insights and recommendations for realizing the Vision 2047.

Shri Sunil Kumar will inaugurate and preside over the inaugural session on the first day of National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop, which will be followed by launch of the People's Plan Campaign (PPC) 2023 for the preparation of the Panchayat Development Plans (2024 – 2025) and Presentation on PPC–2023 and Road Ahead by Shri Vikas Anand, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj. A Report on Formulation of Project Driven Block Panchayat and District Panchayat Development Plan prepared by the Committee constituted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj will be released along with National Training Module of Panchayat Development Index. The delegates will then proceed to round table discussions on the objectives and deliverables of each of the Thematic Groups.

The National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will focus broadly on issues such as Panchayat Election, Gram Sabha & Standing Committees and their Empowerment, Functioning of Panchayats, Panchayat Finances and Own Source of Revenue, Leadership Role for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs), and Evidence–based Planning, on which subjectmatter experts, elected representatives and functionaries and other stakeholders will share their views and valuable insights. Indicative questions/topics have also been identified for Focus Group Discussions.

The National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will not only serve as a knowledge sharing platform for all the major stakeholders including elected representatives and functionaries of three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions from across the country, the outcomes of the National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will help in laying the foundation for future–ready Panchayats encompassing the true essence of Amrit Kaal as envisioned by the Prime Minister and better planning to localize and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas. The National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will also play a pivotal role in positioning the Gram Sabhas at the core of Panchayati Raj for effective participatory local self-governance and ensuring transparency and accountability of the Gram Panchayats.

The National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will conclude with Group Presentations on each of the identified themes and an open-house session for inviting ideas and suggestions for enhancing capabilities and efficiencies of Panchayats and carving a way forward towards achieving the stated goals in defined timeframe. The initiative of National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop is a firm step to further continued commitment and accelerate the collective efforts towards delivering on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas through Panchayati Raj Institutions by 2030. The new ideas which will emerge during the two-day National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop will help maximizing the efficiencies and improving the work ethics of Panchayati Raj Institutions, optimizing the resource utilization and executing the objectives laid out in the Vision 2047 for Panchayats — on the event of India completing 100 years of Independence.

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