JAMMU: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, today said that democracy finds its most authentic expression at the level of the Gram Panchayat, emphasising that meaningful and inclusive development is possible only through sound, participatory, and evidence-based planning at the grassroots.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day Regional Workshop on Capacity Building and Handholding Support for the Formulation of Quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) at IMPARD, J&K, being organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad.
The event was attended by Director General, IMPARD, Rehana Batul; Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K, Sham Lal; Project Head, NIRDPR, Dr. A. K. Banja; experts from NIRDPR; Master Trainers; and senior officers of the department. Panchayat Secretaries, Account Assistants, and other field functionaries are participating in the workshop.
The Secretary said the initiative aims to facilitate the formulation of quality GPDPs in 285 Gram Panchayats—one from each Block of the Union Territory, which will serve as model plans for replication across other Panchayats. He described the partnership with NIRDPR as a significant milestone and expressed confidence that it would usher in a new era of participatory, data-driven, and outcome-oriented planning in line with the vision of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
Highlighting the importance of quality planning, Aijaz Asad said a well-formulated GPDP strengthens local governance by addressing social, economic, and infrastructural needs in a balanced manner. He underlined the pivotal role of the Gram Sabha, stressing that meaningful public participation is essential to ensure plans truly reflect community aspirations. He emphasised that GPDPs must be scientific, evidence-based, and oriented towards long-term, sustainable development.
He appreciated the efforts of the Director, Panchayati Raj and directed that similar capacity-building programmes be organised across districts to bring tangible improvements in GPDP formulation and implementation.
Director General, IMPARD, Rehana Batul, highlighted the role of GPDPs in holistic rural development and emphasised the need for structured capacity-building initiatives to strengthen planning and execution at the Panchayat level.
Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, said that innovative initiatives and large-scale capacity-building programmes are transforming rural governance in Jammu & Kashmir. He stated that the project would result in 285 Model GPDPs, supported through mentoring and handholding, and serve as valuable templates for the entire UT. Emphasizing the role of Master Trainers, he said empowered Panchayats lead to empowered people and a more self-reliant rural Jammu & Kashmir.
