The Nation celebrates 24th April of every year as National Panchayati Raj Day. 24th April marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from that day. Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates 24th April of every year as the National Panchayati Raj Day (राष्ट्रीय पंचायती राज दिवस) (NPRD), as the 73rd Constitutional Amendment came into force on this day. National Panchayati Raj Day is commemorated as a grand event on a big scale and is being generally held outside the National Capital.
This year’s National Panchayati Raj Day holds a special significance as we would be commemorating 30 years of Panchayati Raj in India. This Constitution Amendment Act which introduced Part IX regarding Panchayats, has been a watershed initiative in our democratic polity ushering in an effective local governance at grassroots level.
Since 2014 the Central Government has intensified its efforts to support the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the best manner possible to ensure that the basic objectives of the Panchayati Raj are achieved in true letter and spirit. Under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has seen a quantum leap in the allocation of fiscal resources to Panchayati Raj Institutions to support various infrastructure requirements and developmental activities in rural areas. Central Government has been taking many initiatives for strengthening and empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions, increasing the capacity of representatives of PRIs to fulfill their role and responsibilities and improving the efficiency, transparency of functioning and accountability of PRIs to contribute towards inclusive development, economic growth and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in nine themes i.e. (1) Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Village, (2) Healthy Village, (3) Child-Friendly Village, (4) Water Sufficient Village, (5) Clean and Green Village, (6) Village with Self-sufficient Infrastructure, (7) Socially Just & Socially Secured Village, (8) Village with Good Governance and (9) Women Friendly Village.
Who declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2010?
The then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April 2010.
Which state has first National Panchayati Raj Day?
After the 1957 committee took place, the concept of Panchayati raj came into effect. And in 1959, Rajasthan was the first state to bring the system of Panchayati Raj into the country.
Why is 24th April celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day?
24th April marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from that day.
Who is the father of Panchayati Raj Diwas?
Th e system later came to be known as Panchayati Raj, which was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 October 1959 at Nagour in Rajasthan.