Srinagar, Jun 23 (JKNS): Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India, Vivek Bharadwaj on Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir’s Panchayats are playing an increasingly important role in strengthening digital governance and rural service delivery, reflecting the vision of a modern and technology-driven India.
Addressing the regional workshop on Panchayat-led service delivery titled “Seva Se Samriddhi” at SKICC Srinagar, Bharadwaj, as per news agency JKNS, lauded the efforts being made in Jammu and Kashmir to empower Panchayats and improve governance through digital platforms.
He appreciated the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Rural Development Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, saying their commitment towards public welfare and development has contributed significantly to strengthening grassroots institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bharadwaj said that Panchayats across the country have undergone a remarkable transformation and are no longer confined to traditional modes of functioning.
“Most people still think Panchayats function from a small office or under a tree. The reality today is that Panchayats prepare development plans, monitor projects, execute works, make payments and even conduct audits through digital platforms,” he said.
He informed the gathering that more than 2.5 lakh Panchayats across the country are providing hundreds of services to rural citizens through online systems, making governance more transparent, efficient and accessible.
The MoPR Secretary said that over ₹3 lakh crore has been disbursed online through Panchayats using digital payment systems, reflecting the scale of technology adoption at the grassroots level.
Highlighting innovation in governance, Bharadwaj said the Ministry has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based tool named “Sabhaar,” which enables automatic generation of Gram Sabha meeting minutes in 22 Indian languages after uploading recordings through mobile phones.
He said nearly 1.5 lakh Panchayats have already adopted the platform and added that it has been nominated for the National e-Governance Awards.
Bharadwaj further stated that Panchayats are increasingly becoming symbols of modern governance and are contributing significantly to the vision of a developed India through digital planning, implementation and service delivery mechanisms.
He said the workshop was aimed at recognising Panchayats and Common Service Centres (CSCs) that have demonstrated excellence in public service delivery and governance innovations.
“Our objective is to ensure that people recognise the contribution of Panchayats in nation-building and understand their role in transforming rural governance through technology,” he said. (JKNS)
