Munish Sood
Mandi
Himachal Pradesh Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh on Monday administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected Pradhans and Up-Pradhans of 577 Gram Panchayats in Mandi district at a district-level swearing-in ceremony held at Paddal Ground.
Congratulating the elected representatives, the minister urged them to ensure transparent governance and work wholeheartedly towards the socio-economic development of their respective panchayats.
Panchayats Backbone of Grassroots Democracy
Addressing the gathering, Singh said Gram Panchayats form the foundation of India’s democratic system and play a pivotal role in rural development. He credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for strengthening the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, noting that his vision led to the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
He said the reform has encouraged greater participation of educated youth in grassroots governance and public service.
₹3,744 Crore for Panchayati Raj Institutions Under 16th Finance Commission
The minister announced that under the 16th Finance Commission, Panchayati Raj Institutions across Himachal Pradesh will receive approximately ₹3,744 crore between 2026-27 and 2030-31 for developmental activities. Of this, around ₹481 crore will be released during the current financial year.
Mandi district alone is expected to receive nearly ₹429.11 crore over the next five years, including ₹68.89 crore during the current year.
He said 50 percent of the allocation will be tied grants, earmarked for drinking water supply systems and sanitation projects, while the remaining 50 percent will be untied grants that can be utilized for local development priorities identified by the panchayats.
Government Enhances Funding for Panchayat Buildings
Highlighting the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural infrastructure, Singh said nearly ₹113 crore has been spent over the past three years on the construction and upgradation of Panchayat Ghars.
He noted that financial assistance for constructing Panchayat buildings has been increased from ₹33 lakh to ₹1.14 crore. The buildings are being developed under a uniform design model to create modern and ideal institutional spaces for local governance.
The minister urged Panchayat representatives to make at least 10 biswa of land available for Panchayat Ghar construction and facilitate forest clearances by ensuring the availability of at least one bigha of land for development-related requirements.
Focus on Digitisation and Capacity Building
Singh said the state government is actively promoting the digitisation of Panchayats and expanding online service delivery mechanisms. Newly elected representatives have been provided with study material related to departmental functions and their responsibilities.
He informed that structured training programmes are being organised for Panchayat representatives and stressed the importance of mandatory participation. The government is also developing an integrated digital and online training system to strengthen local governance capabilities.
Incentive for Unopposed Panchayats Raised to ₹25 Lakh
The minister said the state government has introduced several reforms in the Panchayati Raj Act and Rules to strengthen local self-governance. As part of these reforms, the incentive for Panchayats elected unopposed has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
He noted that 137 Panchayats across the state were elected unanimously this year, reflecting growing community consensus and democratic participation.
Calling upon Panchayat leaders to prepare innovative development proposals, Singh said the first formal meeting of Gram Panchayats will be held on June 27. He urged representatives to prioritize drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, self-employment, environmental conservation, and anti-drug initiatives in their development agenda.
He also announced that Panchayat representatives demonstrating exemplary performance would be selected for exposure visits to study best governance practices.
Dignitaries Present
Earlier, Chander Shekhar honoured the Panchayati Raj Minister during the event. The minister also felicitated Alisha, a meritorious student who recently served as Deputy Commissioner for a day under a special initiative.
Among those present were MLA and former minister Anil Sharma, MLA Purn Chand Thakur, former CPS Sohan Lal Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar, senior district officials, elected representatives and prominent members of the public.
