Panchayati Raj Deserves Government’s Best Support and Timely Elections, Says former minister Satya Parkash Thakur.
Shimla:
Former Himachal Pradesh Minister and Chairman of the Balwant Rai Mehta Panchayati Raj Foundation (Trust), Satya Parkash Thakur, has called for greater government support to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system, saying it remains the backbone of rural governance and development across the country.
Speaking during a meeting with All India Panchayat Parishad (AIPP) Vice President and North Zone In-charge Jugal Kishore Gupta, Thakur said the Panchayati Raj system deserves the “best of care and share” from governments, elected Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives and rural communities to ensure balanced and sustainable development.
The meeting, attended by AIPP Vice President Prem Lata Thakur, focused on key issues affecting PRI representatives and rural populations. The leaders discussed the challenges being faced by Panchayati Raj institutions and deliberated on measures required to strengthen the grassroots governance framework. They also highlighted the expectations of elected representatives from both the Centre and state governments to empower local self-governments through policy support and institutional reforms.
Emphasising the importance of democratic continuity at the grassroots level, the leaders stressed that regular and timely Panchayat elections are essential for ensuring development, peace and prosperity in rural areas. They urged the government to conduct the long-pending Rural Local Bodies (RLB) and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
Expressing solidarity with the Jammu and Kashmir State Panchayat Parishad’s movement seeking early local body elections, the leaders said they fully support the campaign and are prepared to participate in it if required.
They also reaffirmed that the All India Panchayat Parishad has consistently worked as a torchbearer of the Panchayati Raj movement in India, advocating for stronger local governance and greater decentralisation to ensure inclusive rural development.
