IMPHAL, June 1: Although the Panchayati Raj Act was implemented some 24 years back in the country, the Act has been reduced impractical in the State which has 161 Gram Panchayats, said director RD and PR, SIRD, Dr K Shyamsunder Singh today.
The RD and PR, director stated this during a two-day workshop programme on ‘Panchayati Raj System in Manipur Challenges and Solution’ held today at Takyel Kolom Leikai Community Hall.
The workshop was organized by the 4-Takyel Development Organization, Takyel Khogban Khumanthem Leikai with the support of department of Rural Development (RD) and Panchayati Raj (PR), State Institute for Rural Development (SIRD).
Dr K Shyamsunder Singh further pointed out that the lack of Mehila Sabha and Ward Sabha in rural development. The objective of the ward is to promote the road connectivity in rural, gram panchayat and women empowerment, added Dr Shyamsunder.
The aim of organizing such programme is to give awareness to the people about the importance of Panchayat, he continued.
He further said that in order to strengthen the Panchayati Raj in the country, the government introduced a scheme called Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA). But, due to absence of Panchayat Ghar and lack of officials, the scheme cannot be materialised, depriving the public of its advantages.
For the development of state, there is a need for development in the rural areas on a priority basis.
Minister of Social Welfare and Cooperation, Ak Mirabai Devi, said that although the concerned department has implemented various welfare schemes, the schemes have failed to reach its real beneficiaries in the grassroot level.
Nevertheless, the Minister is confident that initiative taken by the women in shaping the society will surely bring a change in the society.
She further observed that everyone in the state should retrospect the mistakes they have made hindering development in the State.
She continued that every elected member of the state should take initiative in rendering awareness to the people about the schemes and how to utilise properly which ultimately changes the mindset of the people.
