Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa exhorts the role of PRIs in good governance, social inclusion, women empowerment and economic development
With the motive to sensitize Panchayats about the development planning, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Thursday launched training manual “Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into Gram Panchayat Development Plan.”In a function held at Vikas Bhawan Mohali, Mr. Bajwa said that the training manual has been developed jointly by SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Coordination Centre, Department of Planning and State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Punjab. Objective of this training manual is to strengthen capacities of PRI members for developing an inclusive and holistic developmental plan for their respective gram panchayats within the framework of SDGs.Appreciating the efforts of SDGCC and SIRD & PR, the Cabinet Minister said that this document will definitely be a guiding document and helping hand in systematic and sustainable capacity building of PRI members for integrating SDGs into the developmental plans. He urged the Panchayat Members to work towards good governance, social inclusion, women empowerment and economic development.He also said that the Gram Panchayats are the most relevant and effective agencies of Panchayati Raj for localization and realisation of SDGs.
Mr. Bajwa added that in order to implement the ambitious SDG targets, Government of Punjab has set-up SDG Coordination Centres (SDGCC) under the aegis of Planning Department at the State Level in collaboration with UNDP. SDGCC is working closely with relevant government departments, technical agencies, UN agencies, civil society organization and academic institutions to provide the requisite impetus to the state government’s initiative in rolling out the SDG framework and achieving the SDGs.Addressing on this occasion, Principal Secretary Department of Planning Mr. Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said that Panchayats play a pivotal role in effective and efficient implementation of flagship schemes on subjects of national and state importance for bringing change at grass root level. He further said that in order to achieve SDG targets, PRI representatives should work holistically in a concerted and focused manner at grassroots level.Earlier Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats Rahul Bhandari extended word of welcome towards delegates and said that this manual is going to be a milestone towards achieving SDGs in the State and this will certainly help PRI members in developing GPDPs by integrating SDGs, which is the need of hour. He further said that a government's entire approach is necessary in order to achieve SDGs through active involvement of the community at ground level.The launch program, which was ended with vote of thanks by Director, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats Manpreet Singh, attended by PRI members, BDPOs, officials of Department of Planning, SDG Coordination Centres, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. Further, PRI members from across the State virtually.