SRINAGAR, JUNE 23 : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) must evolve into centres of innovation, equal opportunity, sustainable development and public trust, asserting that empowered grassroots governance is vital for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India.
Addressing the “Seva Se Samriddhi: Regional Workshop on Panchayat-Led Service Delivery” at SKICC Srinagar, Sinha said Panchayat-led service delivery is a key pillar of governance and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening local self-government institutions.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed significant progress in empowering Panchayats through the transfer of funds, functions and functionaries, enabling locally driven planning and implementation of development projects.
Recalling the administration’s transition from the Darbar Move system to digital governance, the Lieutenant Governor said more than 1,100 government services have been brought online over the past three years, making Jammu and Kashmir one of the leading regions in digital service delivery.
Highlighting the expansion of digital infrastructure, Sinha said over 15,000 Common Service Centres are operational across the Union Territory and more than 98 per cent of Panchayats have been connected through digital networks.
He stressed that developed villages are central to building a developed India and called for governance rooted in public participation, transparency and accountability.
Advocating the creation of Village Innovation Labs across the country, Sinha said such platforms could harness local talent and provide practical solutions to grassroots challenges.
He also underlined the need for future-ready Panchayats with easy access to digital services, participatory decision-making and greater accountability, saying governance should be shaped by local communities rather than imposed from above.
