Gujarat has set an ambitious goal to expand the concept of ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) panchayats to all its over 14,000 local bodies. State and Union government officials are emphasizing the need for increased efforts to create independent revenue sources and reduce reliance on government grants. The vision was discussed at a state-level workshop in Gandhinagar, focusing on strategies to enhance the financial sustainability of rural local governments.
Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Vivek Bharadwaj, highlighted the importance of empowering panchayats to generate their own income through local projects. He emphasized the role of panchayats in becoming financially self-sufficient, innovative, and development-oriented. Bharadwaj urged panchayats to identify and leverage their unique resources and geographical advantages to achieve self-reliance.
The initiative aims to make panchayats self-sustaining by launching local projects and initiatives. Officials stressed the significance of panchayats moving beyond government grants and tapping into their own resources for prosperity. Gujarat’s Principal Secretary of Panchayat Department, Dhananjay Dwivedi, emphasized the need for all 14,000-plus panchayats in the state to strive towards self-reliance, not limiting ambitions to selected villages alone.
Additional Development Commissioner Gaurav Dahiya outlined the program’s objective of strengthening gram panchayats financially and reducing their dependency on central and state government grants. The long-term goal is to make all 14,650 gram panchayats in Gujarat self-reliant. Efforts are underway to enhance budgeting and financial management systems in rural local governments, setting a new direction for rural development.
