Special Gram Sabhas to Be Held Across Uttarakhand on October 2, ‘Reform Utsav’ to Begin
Rural Development Plans to Be Discussed with Villagers; Local Suggestions and Priorities to Shape Development Planning
Dehradun, October 1, 2026: Special Gram Sabhas will be organised across all Gram Panchayats in Uttarakhand on October 2 to mark the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. In line with the Government of India’s directions, the ‘Reform Utsav’ will also be launched and implemented in an integrated manner with the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) during these Gram Sabha meetings.
Uttarakhand Rural Development Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary said the special Gram Sabhas will focus on creating awareness about various welfare schemes of the Central and State governments and strengthening their effective implementation through direct interaction with villagers.
Representatives of different departments will provide information about departmental schemes and programmes during the meetings. Eligible beneficiaries will also be informed about the provisions, eligibility criteria and procedures required to avail themselves of various government schemes.
Information on Government Schemes in Simple and Local Language
Information related to government schemes will be disseminated through pamphlets, posters, IEC material, videos, reels and photographs. The information will be presented in a simple, accessible manner, including through local languages wherever appropriate, to ensure that rural residents can easily understand the benefits available to them.
The Gram Sabhas will also provide a platform for villagers to share their suggestions, local needs and development priorities. These inputs will be considered while preparing the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and other development plans.
Planning Process for Developed Gram Panchayat Plan to Begin
The planning process for preparing the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 will also commence from October 2 and continue until January.
Gram Sabha meetings related to GPDP and VGPP, along with collective planning activities, will be organised in coordination with the concerned departments. The coordination is aimed at preventing duplication of development works and schemes and ensuring better convergence among departmental programmes.
Villagers to Be Informed About Provisions and Eligibility
During the special Gram Sabhas, information will also be provided about various provisions, schemes and eligibility criteria applicable to rural households under the Act. Villagers will be encouraged to avail themselves of schemes according to their requirements and actively participate in the preparation of the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan.
Focus on Participation, Transparency and Local Priorities
Field-level officials will provide information about government schemes while gathering suggestions and identifying local requirements. Development action plans will be prepared by giving priority to the needs and aspirations identified at the village level.
Through the ‘Reform Utsav’, the government aims to strengthen people’s participation, transparency and local-priority-based development planning at the grassroots level. The special Gram Sabhas are also intended to make dialogue between rural communities and the government machinery more effective and participatory.
