Neposo Theluo and others during the observance of National Panchayati Raj Day 2022 in Kohima on April 24. Morung Photo
Nagaland observes National Panchayati Raj Day
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 24
The village councils and VDBs in the Nagaland, on April 24, were exhorted to give more efforts and work harder to fulfill the aspiration of the people in bringing socio-economic development as well as better administration at the village level.
Be more resilient so that “we can rely upon our village institutions for the welfare of the state in the days to come,” further stated Neposo Theluo, Commissioner & Secretary for Rural Development (RD), Nagaland addressing an event held to mark the National Panchayati Raj Day here at RD Directorate, Kohima.
Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland observed the day by highlighting the significance of the day as well as the function of the rural local bodies in the state.
“The Government of India has recognised our institutions—Village Council and Village Development Board (VDBs) and we are proud of our system and we have to strengthen it,” Theluo further highlighted.
Accordingly, he maintained that village councils are capable of carrying out their function and responsibilities as Gram Panchayats in other states.
Meanwhile, sharing on the significance of the day, the Commissioner & Secretary noted that the National Panchayati Raj Day is observed every year to commemorate the passing of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992.
The Act, giving the State Governments the authority to take the procedures necessary to formalise Gram Panchayats and enable them to function as self-governing bodies, took effect on April 24, 1993.
The then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, who declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, had said that the day is celebrated to mark the inception of decentralised power through Gram Panchayats, Theluo said.
The day also recognises the effects and contributions of various panchayats in socio-economic development at the grassroot level, he added.
Nagaland’s rural local bodies get XV Finance Commission fund, RGSA fund
Though Nagaland was exempted from the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution nor does it come under Panchayats (Extension of the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), the traditional rural local bodies (Village Councils) are recognised by the GoI as units of local self government, Theluo said.
He said that fund is being given to the VDB under XV Finance Commission and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) fund is also given for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
Due to non existence of Panchayati Raj Department in Nagaland, the Rural Development has been designated as Nodal Department to carry out the task of the preparation of GPDP every year since 2018, he said.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by K Neibou Sekhose, Joint Director (PRI) while vote of thanks was proposed by Azenuo Penyü, Additional Director of Rural Development.
Later, the attendees joined the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj representatives across the country from Pali, Jammu & Kashmir.
PM inaugurates India's first 'carbon neutral panchayat'
According the PTI news agency, Palli became the country's first 'carbon neutral panchayat' on Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating a 500 KV solar plant to the nation.
Installed in a record time of nearly three weeks, the 1,500 solar panels put up on the total area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 houses in the model panchayat under the central government's 'Gram Urja Swaraj' programme, the report added, quoting officials.
