Union Cabinet Secretary, Pradeep Kumar Sinha Friday held a video conference with Chief Secretaries to review the arrangements for an elaborate nationwide campaign to strengthen Panchayati Raj and through it promote social harmony in villages and foster well being of farmers and agricultural labourers.Chief Secretary, J&K, B R Sharma also participated in the video conference.Each Year, 24th April is observed as Panchayati Raj Day, commemorating the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.The Union Government has proposed a three phase campaign starting 14th April to 24th April called the 'Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday' to celebrate the all important event.On 24th April, Prime Minister will address all the Gram Sabhas of the Country and will be beamed across the country.In this regard, each State including J&K was asked to chalk out a detailed programme in accordance with its priorities. Officers of the Union Government shall also be visiting various Districts and Gram Panchayats during the campaign days.
For the campaign to be effective, Union Cabinet Secretary urged States to ensure that key departments especially Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, SC/ST Development, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Education and Health departments need to be actively involved with specific roles assigned to each of them.He said State level and local level publicity drives about the campaign activities and programmes should also be conducted.Meanwhile, State Rural Development has been asked to identify one best performing Panchayat each in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh region, that shall be awarded on the National Panchayat Day.Rural Development Department has also been asked to ensure holding of activities at the Gram Panchayat Level as per the campaign proposal.In the first phase from 14th April to 16th April-focus in the Gram Panchayat will be on programmes and activities related to Social Justice & Harmony in connection with the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.
In the second phase from 17th to 20th April-focus in the Village Kissan Sabha will be on farmers and agricultural labourers and in the third and final phase from 21 to 24th April-focus will be on organising special gram sabhas with maximum participation of villagers particularly women, SCs, STs and citizens belonging to other marginalized groups.A State Level Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary as Chairman and Administrative Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department as member Secretary and other Administrative Secretaries as members shall monitor the overall implementation of the 'Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday- Village Self Governance' campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.Chief Secretary, J&K informed the Union Cabinet Secretary about the preparations underway to make the campaign a grand success in the State. He said a State Level function is also scheduled at Jammu in which Sarpanches and Panches from across the State will be participating.