Varanasi, 16 July (HS): The first Panch Sammelan was organised

under the Vikasit Bharat G-Ram-G Act-2025 at Rudraksh Convention Centre in

Sigra on Thursday under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development,

Government of India and the Rural Development Department of Uttar Pradesh.

Panchayat representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand

participated in the conference. Union Minister of State for Rural Development

Kamlesh Paswan spoke in detail about the overall development of rural India,

the role of Panchayats and the roadmap for the next 25 years. During his visit

to the city, the Minister prayed at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath and Kaal Bhairav

temples. The conference's goal is to improve village panchayats' institutional

preparation and promote transparent, results-driven rural government.

Union Minister Paswan said that the dream of a developed

India will only be realized when rural India becomes self-reliant, prosperous,

and empowered. He noted that approximately 70 percent of the country's

population lives in villages. The goal of a developed India will only be

realized when rural India becomes self-reliant and empowered.

He stated that a comprehensive roadmap for rural development

for the next 25 years has been prepared through the Vikasit Bharat G-Ram-G

Act-2025. Calling upon Panchayat representatives, he urged them to play an

active role in building strong and self-reliant Gram Panchayats and to strive

to provide a wider market for the products of self-help groups.

Referring to MNREGA, Union Minister of State Kamlesh Paswan

said, Under the MNREGA scheme, don't dig the same pit again and again

every year, but work on such schemes which accelerate the sustainable and basic

development of the Panchayats. He said that the government's aim is not

only to provide employment, but also to strengthen the rural economy and link

group-based employment with the market. He said that the Modi government at the

Centre has opened more than 23 crore bank accounts during its tenure.

He said that the face of the city of Varanasi has completely

transformed over the past decade and a half. The construction of the Shri Kashi

Vishwanath Dham Corridor has further strengthened Kashi's global identity.

Today, more than 150 million devotees visit Kashi each year. Road, air

connectivity, and other infrastructure have expanded significantly. He called

on Panchayat representatives to take the objectives of the Vikasit Bharat

G-Ram-G Act-2025 to every village.

Speaking at the conference, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister

Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that the goal of a developed India cannot be

achieved without a developed Uttar Pradesh. He said that the Vikasit Bharat

G-Ram-G Act-2025, is an important step in advancing employment, education,

health, infrastructure, and livelihoods in rural areas in an integrated manner.

He said that the opposition initially opposed this law in

Parliament, but after understanding its objectives, their opposition remained

only symbolic. He alleged that under previous governments, MNREGA was limited

to the distribution of funds, whereas in the new system, special attention has

been given to the basic development of villages and developed Panchayats. He

said that this scheme includes future concerns like medicine, earning and education.

Discussing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maurya said that he

has led the country for 13 years as Chief Minister and 12 years as Prime

Minister. His constant goal has been to build a developed India.

Keshav Maurya claimed that due to the Prime Minister's

efforts, more than 250 million people have come above the poverty line. He said

that under the current government, a record number of Prime Minister's houses

have been built, free food grains have been provided to the poor, and medical

facilities have been ensured through the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He called on

Panchayat representatives to prioritize development works, promote women's

empowerment, and prepare long-term development plans for villages. He also

informed that the Uttar Pradesh government will soon launch the Women

Entrepreneur Credit Card Scheme. New schemes are also being worked on to

encourage self-help groups, create employment in rural areas, and prevent

migration. He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the approval

of Rs. 25,000 crore by the Central Government for the construction of elevated

roads in Varanasi. The conference was attended by Minister of State for MSME

Hansraj Vishwakarma, District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya, Legislative

Council Member Dharmendra Singh, MLAs Saurabh Srivastava and Tribhuvan Ram,

among other dignitaries.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi