Efforts for Gram Sabha empowerment are necessary under ‘PESA Act’: Shri Patel

Governor Shri Mangubhai Patel has said that to make Gram Sabhas effective under PESA, the possibilities of providing hand-holding support to them should be examined. The provisions of the PESA Act should be used successfully by all Gram Sabhas. The community should move forward with everyone equally towards development. In this regard, the initiative should be taken at the departmental level for public awareness.

Governor Shri Patel was addressing the review meeting of Panchayat and Rural Development Department held at Raj Bhavan. Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Smt. Radha Singh was also present.

Governor Shri Patel has said that to maintain the pace of development, continuity of supervision, inspection, and investigation work is necessary. He said that for effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, inspection of the construction work as well as supervision of the utilization of the allocated amount is necessary. At the same time, solutions to ground realities and practical difficulties should also be explored to improve housing design, ventilation, and lighting systems. He also reviewed the effective implementation of the PESA Act. He said that special emphasis should be given to the empowerment efforts of Gram Sabha under the PESA Act. Gram Sabhas should be motivated to use their rights. Gram Sabha empowerment work must be done in a planned manner with a positive approach and new ideas.

Governor Shri Patel pointed out the need for consolidated efforts to achieve the goal of T.B. eradication by 2025. He said the Nikshay Mitra Yojana should be expanded to ensure the availability of nutritious food for tuberculosis patients. Instructions have been given to coordinate with business and professional organizations in this work. During the discussion on the development efforts of special backward tribes, he said that the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Mahaabhiyan (PM Janman) is a remarkable initiative. The scheme intends to make the lives of special backward tribes happy. For the success of the scheme, development work must be carried out with a sensitive approach and qualitative quality.

In the meeting, Governor Shri Patel was told that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to complete the first road and housing under the Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana. As per the instructions, the department will also prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the supervision and inspection of the houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Shri Malay Srivastava, Principal Secretary to the Governor Shri Mukesh Chand Gupta, Additional Secretary to the Governor Shri Umashankar Bhargava, Director Panchayat Raj Shri Manoj Pushp and senior officers were present.