Director asks officials to organise Gram Sabhas across UT

 In preparation for National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on April 24, 2025, Director Panchayati Raj J&K, Sham Lal chaired a meeting with Assistant Commissioners Panchayats (ACPs) to finalize the modalities for the celebrations across the Union Territory.
Emphasizing the importance of grassroots democratic Institutions, the Director directed all ACPs to ensure that every Gram Panchayat convenes a Gram Sabha on April 24 to deliberate on key local governance issues, citizen-centric schemes, and developmental achievements.
"The National Panchayati Raj Day is not just a ceremonial event but a reaffirmation of our commitment to participatory governance and inclusive development," he said.
During the meeting, Sham Lal instructed officials to place special emphasis on structured dialogues at the Gram Sabhas, especially focusing on Water management & conservation, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
To further enhance public awareness, Panchayat Bhawans have been instructed to display details of Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) members, including their role and responsibilities. The State Panchayat Resource Centre (SPRC) and District Panchayat Resource Centres (DPRCs) were directed to coordinate with field officials to ensure seamless event execution.
Sham Lal also stressed the need to maximize community involvement, urging the participation of ASHA workers, Anganwadi staff and local residents in Gram Sabha proceedings.
He said a robust social media outreach must be encouraged using hashtags such as #NationalPanchayatiRajDay2025 and #GramSabha, with officials instructed to tag the Ministry of Panchayati Raj's official handles for greater visibility.
The Director directed officials to maintain detailed records of all Gram Sabha proceedings, resolutions, and certifications, which are to be uploaded on the official platform meetingonline.gov.in.
A major highlight of the event will be the live broadcast of the Prime Minister’s address, for which necessary arrangements are being made in Panchayats across the Union Territory.
The NPRD 2025 celebrations aim to commemorate the legacy of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment while strengthening transparency, accountability, and community-led development through robust participation at the grassroots level.