PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT DAY LAUNCHED

PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT DAY LAUNCHED

28-JUNE-ENG 23

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------As part of a new initiative by the Bihar government to observe "Panchayat Development Day" on the last Sunday of every month, a grand event was organized today, June 28, 2026, at the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan complex in Nawadaben Panchayat, Udvantnagar Block. The event was presided over by Shri Arun Shankar Prasad, the Hon'ble Minister of Labour Resources, Migrant Workers' Welfare, and Youth, Employment & Skill Development, who is also the Minister-in-Charge for Bhojpur district. Distinguished guests present on the occasion included Shri Radhacharan Sah (Hon'ble Member, Sandesh Assembly Constituency), Shri Santosh Kumar Mall (IAS, Principal Secretary of Disaster Management Department and Secretary-in-Charge for Bhojpur), Shri Tanay Sultania (District Magistrate, Bhojpur), and Shri Raj (Superintendent of Police), among others.

Upon his arrival, the Minister-in-Charge was accorded a Guard of Honour. Subsequently, all guests were welcomed with bouquets and potted plants.

This year, 'Panchayat Development Day' was organized around the theme of "Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat." A large number of women participated enthusiastically in the Gram Sabha, where detailed discussions were held on various topics such as the holistic development of the Panchayat, women's empowerment, local development schemes, and public participation.

During the event, a collective broadcast of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's popular radio program, 'Mann Ki Baat,' was aired; the public representatives, officials, and villagers present listened to it attentively.

On this occasion, the Hon'ble Minister-in-Charge, Shri Arun Shankar Prasad, disbursed disaster relief ex-gratia payments totaling ₹1 crore—at the rate of ₹4 lakh each—to the dependents of 25 individuals who had lost their lives in various disasters. He stated that the Bihar government is continuously working to empower Panchayats, recognizing them as the cornerstone of rural development. He placed special emphasis on the active participation of women, skill development for the youth, employment generation, and ensuring that the benefits of the government's public welfare schemes reach the last person in the queue. He also urged the villagers to participate enthusiastically in the Panchayat's development activities and to make the Gram Sabhas more effective. In his address, Principal Secretary-cum-Secretary-in-Charge Shri Santosh Kumar Mall stated that Panchayats are the most crucial units for good governance and inclusive development. He urged Panchayat representatives and officials to ensure the timely, high-quality, and transparent implementation of schemes and to work towards making Panchayats self-reliant and empowered through public participation.

Bhojpur District Magistrate Shri Tanay Sultania remarked that the objective of 'Panchayat Development Day' is to strengthen public participation in Gram Panchayats and to make Gram Sabhas more active for the effective implementation of development schemes. He called upon all officials and public representatives to work with commitment—fostering coordination—towards the holistic development of Panchayats, women's participation, and ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach every eligible beneficiary.

During the event, street plays (Nukkad Natak) were also staged, focusing on themes such as Panchayat empowerment, sanitation, and alcohol prohibition. Through their impactful performances, the artists inspired villagers regarding social awareness, de-addiction, and the role of Panchayats.

The event was attended by the Deputy Development Commissioner, District Panchayati Raj Officer, Additional Collector (Disaster), other district and block-level officials, local