National Webinar on 'Citizen-Centric Services by Panchayati Raj Institutions' Showcases Digital Advances in Rural Service Delivery

In his address, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digital integration aimed at enhancing accessibility for rural citizens.

On November 11, 2024, a Special Webinar on “Citizen-Centric Services provided by Panchayati Raj Institutions” was held as part of the National e-Governance Webinar Series (NeGW 2023–24). Jointly organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the event focused on the transformative role of digital solutions in improving service delivery for rural citizens. The webinar drew active participation from Gram Panchayats and representatives from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) nationwide, underscoring the importance of inclusive and accessible governance for rural communities.

In his address, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digital integration aimed at enhancing accessibility for rural citizens. He spoke about the benefits of unified, multi-portal solutions, which streamline service delivery processes across rural India. This approach aligns with the Ministry's broader goal of inclusive and sustainable rural development, enabling PRIs to deliver essential services more efficiently while empowering local governance structures.

Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary of DARPG, opened the webinar by stressing the importance of citizen-centric governance within the Panchayati Raj system. He acknowledged state-level initiatives, such as Karnataka’s Panchamitra, Gujarat’s eSeva, and Kerala’s Integrated Local Governance Management System (ILGMS), as successful digital governance models that enhance transparency and accessibility for rural citizens. He encouraged other states to draw inspiration from these examples to improve digital governance practices across rural India.

Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary (Governance) at MoPR, discussed recent initiatives to further digital integration within PRIs, including the Citizen Charter Campaign launched in 2021. This campaign has facilitated easier access to essential services such as certification processing and MGNREGA benefits. He emphasized that digital tools, combined with Panchayat-centered strategies, are key to creating responsive governance frameworks that meet the unique needs of rural citizens. The webinar highlighted the broader vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) through a digitally empowered governance model, focusing on efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

Senior officials from various states, including Smt. Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayati Raj), Karnataka; Shri Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayati Raj), Tamil Nadu; and Smt. Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary (Panchayati Raj), Kerala, shared insights on improving service delivery at the Gram Panchayat level. They observed that urban local bodies in Karnataka, Kerala, and Gujarat are adopting best practices inspired by rural PRIs to strengthen governance and efficiency. Their contributions underscored the importance of inter-state knowledge sharing and collaboration to build a more resilient governance structure at the grassroots level.

Through initiatives like NeGW 2023–24 and the continuous implementation of best practices across states, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and DARPG are fostering a digital-first approach to rural governance. This approach strengthens Panchayati Raj Institutions as essential facilitators of citizen services, supporting the Government of India’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development and furthering the mission of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas."