Steps to be taken to revive the Kshetra Panchayat Fund and increase honorariums and allowances of elected representatives: Chief Minister
Block Pramukhs play an important role in rural development; coordination between public representatives and administration will accelerate development works
State government committed to strengthening the financial position of Panchayats and expanding employment opportunities in villages: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Uttarakhand Block Pramukh Organisation Conference 2026, held at the Mukhyasevak Sadan at the Chief Minister's residence on Sunday. Welcoming block pramukhs and public representatives from different parts of the state, the Chief Minister made four important announcements aimed at strengthening Kshetra Panchayats and addressing the concerns of their representatives.
The Chief Minister announced that steps would be taken to revive the Kshetra Panchayat Fund and increase the honorariums and allowances of Kshetra Panchayat representatives. He also announced that the Block Pramukh would be included in the block-level committee of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. In addition, consultations would be held with the concerned Gram Panchayat before incorporating rural areas into urban local bodies.
Dhami said Block Pramukhs and Panchayat representatives serve as an important bridge between the government and the public. They have a better understanding of local problems and requirements and play a significant role in the development of roads, drinking water, healthcare, education and other basic facilities.
He said the concerns, suggestions and demands of public representatives were known to the government. Positive decisions would be taken to address them after consultations with the concerned departments.
The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government was working with the spirit of Antyodaya, with the objective of ensuring that the benefits of development schemes reach the last person in society.
He urged public representatives to maintain continuous coordination with the administration to ensure that eligible beneficiaries in their areas receive the benefits of government schemes and that public grievances are addressed.
Dhami said the state government's 'Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar' campaign had taken governance and administration directly to the people. Thousands of people had benefited from government schemes through the initiative, while several problems had been resolved at the local level. He said collective efforts by the government, administration and public representatives could make public services more effective.
The Chief Minister said several important steps had been taken across the country under the Prime Minister's leadership to strengthen Panchayats. Resources, basic infrastructure and digital services available to Panchayats had been expanded. Optical fibre connectivity to Gram Panchayats and the construction of Panchayat buildings had given fresh momentum to rural development.
He said the state government was also working to strengthen the financial position of local bodies. In accordance with the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission, a proposal has been made to increase the share of local bodies in the state's tax revenue from 10.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent. An allocation of Rs 721 crore has been made for this purpose in the supplementary budget. This will provide additional resources to rural and urban local bodies for development activities.
He added that efforts were also being made to construct Panchayat buildings in Gram Panchayats that currently do not have such facilities, in a phased manner.
Dhami said the goal of a developed Uttarakhand could be achieved only by making villages strong and self-reliant. Along with expanding roads, electricity, drinking water, healthcare, education and digital connectivity, the state government was focusing on increasing employment and self-employment opportunities in rural areas.
Homestays, rural tourism, agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and local products were being promoted. He said the state had recorded a 44 per cent increase in reverse migration. Active participation of Panchayat representatives was essential to expand livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
The Chief Minister said the state government had taken several important decisions in the interest of Uttarakhand. The state had become the first in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code. Strict laws against religious conversion, riots and cheating in examinations had also been implemented.
A major drive had been undertaken to free government land from illegal encroachments, while a stringent land law had been introduced to protect the interests of local residents. He added that efforts to ensure transparency in recruitment processes had resulted in government jobs for more than 35,000 young people in the state.
The Chief Minister said development works were being undertaken at Kedarnath and Badrinath under their respective master plans. Along with the development of prominent temples in Kedar Khand and Manas Khand, projects such as the Golju Corridor, Yamuna Corridor and Sharda Corridor were also being taken forward.
Efforts were being made to promote winter tourism and expand tourism activities, thereby creating livelihood opportunities for local residents throughout the year.
Dhami said women were being economically empowered through self-help groups and the Lakhpati Didi campaign. Various schemes were also being implemented for the welfare of farmers, senior citizens, serving and retired defence personnel, and other sections of society. He urged public representatives to spread awareness about these schemes and help ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive their benefits.
The Chief Minister stressed that funds allocated to Panchayats must be utilised with complete transparency and honesty. Development works should be completed within the stipulated time, and there should be no compromise on quality at any level.
He said public representatives must live up to people's expectations and work with a commitment to public service, good governance and development. Emphasising that all public representatives shared collective responsibility for the state's progress, he expressed confidence that their cooperation and active participation would accelerate rural development and help Uttarakhand achieve its goal of becoming one of the leading states in the country.
Uttarakhand Block Pramukh Organisation State President Rajiv Kandari, General Secretary Ganesh Chandola, Jyoti Grover, Patron Harish Bisht and other Block Pramukhs were present at the conference.
