Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday launched the 'Drishti' online audit platform and a payment gateway on the 'Panchayat Darpan' portal, saying the digital initiatives would make Panchayat administration more transparent, accountable and technology-driven.
The two facilities were launched during a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Mantralaya here. Addressing the programme, Yadav said the state government was leveraging technology to improve governance at the grassroots level and ensure greater transparency in the functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions.
He said the 'Drishti' platform would enable auditors to carry out financial audits of Panchayats online, making the process faster, more transparent and efficient. According to the government, the platform has been developed by the Directorate of Panchayat Raj under the guidance of the Accountant General and with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The system would allow auditors to access income and expenditure records of Panchayats remotely, helping conduct timely audits of all 23,011 Gram Panchayats in the state. Timely audits are mandatory for the release of grants under the Central Finance Commission.
Yadav also inaugurated a payment gateway integrated with the 'Panchayat Darpan' portal, which will enable Panchayats to generate bills online and allow citizens to make payments digitally from their homes. The facility has been developed jointly by the Directorate of Panchayat Raj, NIC, Madhya Pradesh Jal Nigam and Union Bank of India.
The chief minister said the initiatives would reduce paperwork, improve financial transparency and make public services more accessible in rural areas. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, who also joined the event, said the state government was committed to making Panchayat administration more efficient through digital reforms.
He said these initiatives are not merely technological upgrades but reforms aimed at strengthening financial discipline, transparency and accountability in Panchayat functioning. He added that citizens will be able to access services more easily, while the administration will benefit from a faster and more transparent audit system.
Patel shared that the two initiatives would automate financial record management, reduce the time required for audits and public payments, and improve governance at the village level. It added that the online audit platform and payment gateway would help ensure better utilisation of public funds while making Panchayat services more transparent and citizen-friendly.