2009 - 10 To be the year of Gram Sabha

Panchayati Raj in India is completing 50 years tomorrow. To commemorate the occasion a National Convention of Panchayati Raj Ministers, Zila Parishad Presidents and elected representatives who have served more than 25 years from all the States/UTs has been organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj at Vigyan Bhawan on Friday. A function at Nagaur in Rajasthan has also been organized later in the evening on this occasion.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi will address the convention along with the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Dr.C.P. Joshi. Elected Representatives for the Panchayats who have served more than 25 years from all the States/UTs will be honoured during the convention.

Presentations on 1) Activating Gram Sabhas 2) Gram Panchayat and Participatory Planning and 3) Panchayats and NREGA,NRHM, SSA and TSC will also be made by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry Of Rural Development, Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry Of Human Resource Development during the day long meeting. A film on Hiware Bazaar, a model Panchayat in Maharashtra will also be screened on this occasion. Deliberations and interventions from elected representatives of States regarding their plans for strengthening Panchayati Raj and observing 2009-10 as the ‘Year of Gram Sabha, will also feature during the course of proceedings.

I It may be recalled that Late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the 1st Prime Minister of India had inaugurated Panchayati Raj in India at Naguar in Rajasthan on 2nd October, 1959.

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AKT/ST/SAK-
(Release ID :52952)