Hyderabad: Union Panchayati Raj Secretary, Vivek Bharadwaj, announced on Tuesday that the central government is committed to turning every panchayat into a center of efficient, transparent, and responsive services.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj held the first regional workshop under the Panchayat Sammelan series. The event was focused on ‘Ease of Living: Enhancing Service Delivery at the Grassroots’ and took place at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR). During the inauguration, Bharadwaj said the sammelan is an important step in this transformation process.
Bharadwaj emphasized that delivering services with the “seva bhaav” (spirit of service) is essential for improving rural self-reliance and encouraging voluntary tax compliance. He explained that there is a direct link between the quality of services provided and the willingness of citizens to pay taxes. This, in turn, helps panchayats become self-reliant through their own revenues.
He also suggested that successful service delivery models should be shared and documented to inspire other panchayats. States with excellent service delivery systems should work together to help others replicate these successful models.
In addition, Bharadwaj mentioned that the Ministry has approved the provision of 22,164 computers to gram panchayats in states where computers were not previously available. This will improve access to online services in rural areas. He also noted that the Ministry has sanctioned the construction of 3,301 gram panchayat bhavans, which will include common service centers (CSCs), further boosting digital infrastructure in villages.
Dr. G Narendra Kumar, Director General of NIRD&PR, commented on the role of panchayat representatives and officials. He said they are responsible for driving positive change at the local level. By providing them with modern tools and knowledge, the government is laying the groundwork for a transformation in governance that starts from the grassroots.
