The nationwide campaign of District-level Panch Sammelans , organized to facilitate the effective implementation of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat-G RAM G) Act, 2025 and to orient elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), has achieved remarkable success. The Ministry of Rural Development had requested States and Union Territories to organize Panch Sammelans to familiarize elected representatives and functionaries at all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions with the provisions of the Act, as well as their roles and responsibilities.

A total of 1,338 Panch Sammelans have been successfully organized across the country so far. This achievement reflects the active participation, commitment and strong ownership demonstrated by States and Union Territories towards the effective implementation of the VB-G RAM G Act.

Through these Panch Sammelans, participation of more than 5.26 lakh Panchayati Raj representatives, functionaries, and officials/staff members has been ensured. The scale of participation highlights the growing awareness and enthusiasm among local representatives regarding the role of Gram Panchayats in participatory planning, rural development and grassroots governance.

So far, 23 States and Union Territories have completed their scheduled Panch Sammelans. These include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry. These States and Union Territories have set a notable example of timely and effective implementation.

Several States have adopted innovative and multi-tiered approaches to further expand the outreach of these Panch Sammelans. States such as Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal have organized Sammelans not only at the district level but also at other administrative levels, thereby ensuring wider outreach among Panchayati Raj representatives and functionaries. This has significantly strengthened awareness generation and capacity-building efforts at the grassroots level.

The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 places Gram Panchayats at the centre of the rural development process and entrusts them with important responsibilities relating to planning, implementation, monitoring, transparency and social accountability. The Panch Sammelans have emerged as an effective platform for familiarizing elected representatives and functionaries with various provisions of the Act, including the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP), Rural Rozgar Guarantee Card, asset creation, convergence, social audit and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Overall, the Panch Sammelan campaign is progressing with encouraging momentum across the country. Through active participation by States and Union Territories and extensive stakeholder engagement, a strong foundation has been laid for rural development, good governance, participatory planning and the strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

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RC/PU