The Ministry of Rural Development will organise a 'Panch Sammelan' in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on July 16, bringing together nearly 500 Gram Panchayat heads from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand to deliberate on strengthening grassroots governance and implementing the VB-G Ram Ji Act, 2025.

The conference will be held at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre and will focus on enhancing the institutional capacity of Gram Panchayats while promoting participatory and evidence-based rural development planning.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, and Joint Secretary in the Department of Rural Development Rohini R. Bhajibhakare will attend the event.

Focus on Implementation of VB-G Ram Ji Act

The primary objective of the conference is to familiarise elected village representatives with the provisions and objectives of the VB-G Ram Ji Act, 2025 and strengthen institutional preparedness for its effective implementation at the grassroots level.

Discussions will also cover improving Gram Panchayat governance, enhancing transparency and accountability, promoting convergence among government schemes, and preparing evidence-based village development plans aligned with local needs.

Technical Sessions and Best Practices

The programme will begin with registration, a ceremonial lamp lighting, and a welcome session, followed by addresses by senior dignitaries.

Technical sessions will include presentations by officials from the Ministry of Rural Development and partner organisations. Joint Secretary Rohini R. Bhajibhakare will explain the key provisions of the Act and its implementation strategy.

The Uttar Pradesh government will present its experiences in rural governance, while GIZ will showcase initiatives on Gram Panchayat Development Plans. PRADAN will present models for strengthening rural livelihoods, and the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) will conduct a special session on the role of Gram Panchayat leaders in implementing the legislation effectively.

Platform for Inter-State Learning

The conference will also provide an opportunity for Gram Panchayat heads from the four participating states to exchange experiences, innovative practices, implementation challenges and local success stories.

Officials said the interaction is expected to promote knowledge sharing and encourage the adoption of best practices in rural governance across states.

Representatives from Four States

According to the Ministry, around 350 Gram Pradhans from Uttar Pradesh, 75 from Bihar, 50 from Jharkhand, and 25 from Uttarakhand are expected to participate in the conference.

The Ministry said the initiative aims to build stronger, more accountable and responsive Gram Panchayats while accelerating the implementation of rural development programmes in line with the vision of "Viksit Gram–Viksit Bharat."