Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Special Gram Sabhas will be held across all Gram Panchayats in Odisha on October 2, marking Gandhi Jayanti, with the state government calling for greater community participation in local development planning.
Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has urged Sarpanchs to ensure that the meetings are inclusive, participatory and focused on issues affecting local communities.
Gram Swaraj at the centre
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, Naik called for villagers to actively identify problems, assess community needs, explore local opportunities and determine development priorities.
He stressed that the views and participation of villagers should form the basis of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) under the People’s Plan Campaign 2026-27.
‘Reform Utsav’ to be a key theme
This year’s special Gram Sabha will also focus on ‘Reform Utsav’, with Sarpanchs asked to encourage wider participation in discussions on government schemes, reform measures and issues related to rural development.
The meetings are expected to provide villagers with a platform to raise local concerns and contribute directly to decisions concerning development activities in their respective Gram Panchayats.
Government pushes participatory planning
The state government has emphasised that stronger community participation can help align village-level development plans with the actual needs and priorities of local residents.
The October 2 Gram Sabhas are therefore expected to serve as an important forum for consolidating public opinion and incorporating grassroots priorities into the planning process for the coming year.
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