Dehradun (Rajeev Sharma): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday emphasized the need for modern, holistic training for newly elected village heads, area panchayat members, and district panchayat members. Stressing the importance of empowering grassroots leadership, he said such measures are key to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
Focus on Village-Centric Growth
Chairing a review meeting with the Panchayati Raj Department at the Secretariat, CM Dhami highlighted that sustainable state and national progress depend on robust village development. He urged coordinated and integrated efforts across departments to transform rural areas.
Integrated Panchayat Bhawans
To streamline governance at the grassroots level, Dhami ordered the construction of Integrated Panchayat Bhawans across Uttarakhand. These facilities will bring together Gram Panchayat Development Officers, Patwaris, ASHA workers, and other officials under one roof. A joint duty roster will ensure villagers can access essential services conveniently.
Enhanced Budget Planning and Urban Forecasting
Dhami called for improved budget planning across Gram, Area, and District Panchayats to ensure organized development. He also directed the Panchayati Raj Department to conduct a study estimating how much rural land may transition into urban areas over the next 15 years to help plan for future growth.
Panchayat Foundation Days as Community Festivals
To strengthen community engagement, Dhami proposed celebrating Gram Sabha foundation days as festivals. He suggested preparing an annual calendar to align these celebrations with local fairs and cultural events, fostering a deeper bond between governance and local traditions.
Real-Time Monitoring and E-Governance
The Chief Minister emphasized the adoption of e-governance tools for real-time monitoring of development schemes. He directed that panchayat-level work be audited regularly and published on a public portal to ensure transparency and accountability.
Inclusive Development and Grievance Redressal
Dhami underscored the importance of balanced growth across all regions and instructed officials to establish a time-bound grievance redressal system at every panchayat. He stressed that no community or individual should be excluded from the benefits of development programs.
With these directives, CM Dhami reinforced his government’s vision of building stronger, more accountable, and technology-driven local governance in Uttarakhand.
