Special Gram Sabhas Held Across India on Gandhi Jayanti
Over 2.42 lakh Special Gram Sabhas were held across India to kickstart the People’s Plan Campaign 2026-27 for rural development.
In a massive nationwide exercise to strengthen grassroots democracy, more than 2.42 lakh Special Gram Sabhas were conducted across India on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. This significant event, organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, saw unprecedented participation from local residents, elected representatives, and government officials to discuss the future of rural development.
Kickstarting the People’s Plan Campaign
The Special Gram Sabhas served as the official launchpad for the People’s Plan Campaign 2026-27. Operating under the theme “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas,” this initiative empowers Panchayats to design their own development plans for the upcoming Financial Year 2027-28. This ensures that the roadmap for rural growth is built on the actual needs and aspirations of the villagers themselves.
The scale of this exercise was facilitated through digital platforms, specifically the GPDP Portal and the Panchayat NIRNAY Portal, ensuring that the voices of rural citizens are integrated into the national development framework.
Key Issues at the Center of Discussion
The deliberations during these sessions were wide-ranging, focusing on several critical areas that impact the daily lives of rural citizens. The discussions primarily revolved around central government schemes and pioneering initiatives from various departments, including:
- Financial Empowerment: Discussions on the enhanced devolution of Central Finance Commission grants to Panchayats and increasing financial self-reliance through Own Source Revenue.
- Resource Security: Ensuring safe drinking water, sanitation, water security, and food security for all.
- Livelihood and Rights: Focusing on assured employment, livelihoods, and securing property and land rights.
- Social Empowerment: Dedicated focus on consumer protection and women’s economic empowerment.
A Whole-of-Government Approach
The successful execution of these sessions was made possible through a coordinated effort involving 21 different Ministries and Departments of the Central Government. This "Whole-of-Government" approach was supported by the active involvement of field-level functionaries and MY Bharat volunteers across State, District, Block, and Gram Panchayat levels.
Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, worked alongside senior officers to maintain continuous contact with State and Union Territory officials. This coordination, rooted in the spirit of cooperative federalism, ensured that the massive undertaking was conducted seamlessly across the country.
Strengthening Grassroots Governance
Since 2018, the Ministry has been rolling out the People’s Plan Campaign to enable Panchayats to create evidence-based and holistic development plans. This is further supported by the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, which provides training and capacity building across nine key themes of local development.
Currently, more than 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats utilize the eGramSwaraj portal to prepare and upload their participatory development plans. Additionally, the Panchayat Advancement Index is being used to help individual Gram Panchayats identify their specific achievements and areas for improvement, ensuring that no village is left behind in India's growth journey.