Hyderabad, May 2 (RAHNUMA): An Outreach Workshop on the Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Programme was held at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) in Rajendra Nagar here, bringing together over 400 participants who included senior officials, financial institutions, and Panchayat representatives from Telangana.
Organised by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj in collaboration with the Telangana Panchayat Raj Department, the event spotlighted strategies for strengthening grassroots governance and financial self-reliance. Around 70 Sarpanches were recognised for outstanding performance in generating Own Source Revenue (OSR).
Delivering the keynote address, Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, underscored the importance of empowered Panchayats in achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat. He called on local leaders to embrace innovation and drive sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Special Chief Secretary to state Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department M. Dana Kishore highlighted the need to boost Panchayats’ own revenues and reduce reliance on government grants through efficient fund utilisation and adoption of best practices.
Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, D. Divya, Commissioner (PR), Telangana and P. Subhas Reddy, Regional Chief, HUDCO Limited, Hyderabad, were also present on the occasion. P. J. Wesley, Deputy Commissioner (PR), Telangana, and Nodal Officer for Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, highlighted the critical importance of OSR strengthening and encouraged Panchayat representatives to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches for effective local governance.
Goverdhan Singh Rawat, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD, affirmed that the vision of Viksit Bharat already recognises rural communities as indispensable partners in national development, and commended the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for its consistent endeavours through Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Local Bodies. He called for coordinated institutional efforts to make Panchayats strong drivers of economic growth and self-reliance.
A live demonstration of the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Portal by the Ministry’s technical team provided participants with practical insights into digital governance tools. The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A session, fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange.
The event served as a key platform for capacity building and collaboration, reinforcing the vision of self-reliant and financially empowered Panchayats across the country.
