HIRD Director Dr. Chauhan urges BDPOs to Adopt a Gram Panchayat and Develop It into a Model Panchayat

Nilokheri, July 11, 2026: A six-day capacity-building program organized at the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) for Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) and Executive Engineers from various states concluded on Saturday.

Addressing the valedictory session, HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan stated that true success in rural development is achievable only when officials apply the knowledge gained during training to transform Gram Panchayats into ideal models of development.

Dr. Chauhan urged all BDPOs to formulate concrete action plans to make the Gram Sabha—in at least one Gram Panchayat within their respective blocks—ideal and effective, and to make every effort to implement these plans on the ground. He noted that the kind of ideal Gram Sabha envisioned in the Panchayati Raj Act is rarely seen in reality. He emphasized that an empowered Gram Sabha is the cornerstone of a transparent, participatory, and accountable Panchayat system. If every official resolves to develop at least one Panchayat into a model one, the positive impact will be evident in the rural development of the entire region.

Program Coordinator Kamaldeep Sangwan stated that during this six-day training, experts provided instruction on subjects such as Panchayat administration, rural development schemes, financial management, leadership development, digital governance, social participation, and practical case studies.

Dr. Akanksha Shukla and Dr. Sucharita Pujari from the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, stated that the objective of the training was to further strengthen the officials' leadership capabilities, decision-making efficiency, and positive attitude towards public service. They urged the participants to incorporate the principles of innovation, public participation, and good governance into their work.

Anu Tank, BDPO of Rajound, remarked that following this training, the formulation of schemes at the block level could be carried out in a more effective and result-oriented manner than before. Mohammad Isa, a participant from Ladakh, stated that Haryana and Ladakh could learn a great deal from each other's experiences in the field of rural development.

Gaurav Bhardwaj, Executive Engineer of the Panchayati Raj Department in Sirsa, remarked that the work undertaken by Ladakh in solid waste management serves as an exemplary model for other states. Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), Executive Engineers from the Panchayati Raj Department, and other officials and participants from Haryana, Ladakh, and various districts of Haryana were present on the occasion.