NIRD&PR commemorates National Panchayati Raj Day

Hyderabad, April 24 : National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) commemorates National Panchayati Raj Day with inauguration of Training-cum-Exposure Visit for Mukhiyas of Bihar.On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, marking the historic enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which formalized Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as pillars of local self-governance, the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, inaugurated a three-day training and exposure visit for 137 Mukhiyas (Gram Panchayat Presidents) from Bihar. This significant day, observed annually since 2010, celebrates the empowerment of over three million elected representatives—nearly half of whom are women—driving grassroots democracy, social equity, and sustainable development across India. The program was inaugurated at NIRD&PR’s Hyderabad campus by Dr G. Narendra Kumar, IAS, Director General, NIRD&PR, in the presence of distinguished faculty members, including Dr. Anjan Kumar Bhanja, Dr. R. Chinnadurai, Dr. R. Aruna Jayamani, and Dr. K. Rajeshwar. In his keynote address, Dr G. Narendra Kumar emphasized the transformative role of PRIs in advancing national development goals. He highlighted replicable best practices from southern States such as Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which could inspire innovative governance models in Bihar. Dr Kumar underscored the critical contribution of PRIs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through initiatives like watershed management, afforestation, renewable energy, and decentralized planning via Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs). He also commended the Ministry of Panchayati Raj’s vision of participatory governance, supported by digital platforms such as e-GramSwaraj and Audit Online, which enhance transparency and financial autonomy for PRIs.

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Dr Anjan Kumar Bhanja, Associate Professor and Head, Centre for Panchayati Raj, delivered the welcome address, highlighting NIRD&PR’s pivotal role through its School of Excellence in Panchayati Raj (SoEPR). The SoEPR supports PRIs through nine specialized centres focusi