The Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Giriraj Singh, inaugurated a significant three-day national thematic workshop focused on the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within Panchayats. The event took place in Srinagar and was graced by the presence of Jammu & Kashmir's Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha, as well as Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Kapil Moreshwar Patil.
During his virtual address, Minister Giriraj Singh emphasized the transformative role Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played in reshaping the functioning of Panchayats in India. He noted that the Panchayats, which serve as the grassroots governing bodies, now carry the responsibility of implementing policies and programs that promote transparency and sustainable development. Minister Singh highlighted that India's aspirations for prosperity are closely tied to the active participation of Panchayats in realizing national and international development goals.
In his address, Singh underlined the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. He stressed that these goals, comprising 17 targets, can only be accomplished through the collective efforts of elected representatives across the nation.
"The mantra provided by PM Narendra Modi – 'Reform, Perform and Transform' – is imperative," Minister Singh stated, emphasizing the need for Panchayats to exhibit sustainability, equity, transparency, and responsibility while contributing to good governance.
An essential aspect of the workshop was the release of the 'Meri Panchayat Mobile App', developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Additionally, Operating Guidelines of the National Capacity Building Framework (NCBF), Service-level Benchmarks, Self-Assessment tools, and Model Contracts were also unveiled during the event.
The workshop's primary objective was to showcase effective strategies, convergent actions, innovative models, and best practices to enhance capacity building and training, monitoring frameworks, incentivization, and the integration of SDG themes into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).
Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, also addressed the gathering and expressed his gratitude to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and the state administration for their support in organizing the workshop. Patil called for greater awareness of the SDGs among the public and stressed the importance of collective efforts to achieve the targets set for 2030.
The inaugural ceremony saw the presence of distinguished dignitaries, government officials, and around 1000 elected representatives from Panchayati Raj Institutions across the nation. This workshop promises to stimulate discussions, innovations, and collaborations that will empower Panchayats to play a pivotal role in achieving India's sustainable development goals.
