Tripura Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman announced the government’s initiative to empower every Gram Panchayat and Village Committee through strengthened Panchayat Development Plans, 16th Finance Commission Grants, and the BV G-RAM G scheme, aiming to accelerate transparent and inclusive rural development across the state.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy and accelerating rural development, Tripura Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman on Monday announced that the government has undertaken a comprehensive initiative to empower every Gram Panchayat (GP) and Village Committee (VC) across the state through effective planning, financial empowerment and transparent governance.
The minister made the announcement while addressing a day-long workshop on the Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) 2026-27 and an overview of the XVI Finance Commission Grants at the State Panchayat Resource Centre in A.D. Nagar. Around 300 participants, including representatives from the three-tier Panchayati Raj System, Block Advisory Committee (BAC) Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, Block Development Officers (BDOs), officials of the Panchayat Department and other concerned departments, attended the workshop.
Addressing the gathering, Barman said the philosophy of Bharat Kesari Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee continues to inspire public representatives to serve people with honesty, dedication and transparency. Quoting Dr. Mookerjee’s belief that “public service must be the driving force of statecraft,” the minister urged elected representatives and officials to remain committed to people-centric governance.
He said the government is determined to empower every Gram Panchayat and Village Committee so that development reaches the last person in society. According to him, Panchayat Development Plans must be prepared after extensive consultations with local residents, ensuring that the actual needs and priorities of rural communities are reflected in the planning process. He also stressed the importance of conducting Gram Sabha meetings regularly and on time to strengthen participatory governance.
During his address, the minister elaborated on three major subjects—the Panchayat Development Plan 2026-27, the recommendations and grants of the 16th Finance Commission, and the newly introduced BV G-RAM G Scheme. He stated that these initiatives would collectively enhance the financial capacity of local self-government institutions while promoting accountability, transparency and long-term planning.
The workshop featured extensive discussions on identifying the genuine developmental needs of rural areas, prioritising projects under Panchayat Development Plans, effective utilisation of Finance Commission grants, financial empowerment of local bodies, progressive planning and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in public administration.
Highlighting Tripura’s achievements in rural governance, Barman said the state has earned national recognition for the successful implementation of the three-tier Panchayati Raj System. He informed that Tripura secured seven national awards last year for excellence in Panchayat administration and has already received three national awards this year. Nearly 80 per cent of the state’s Panchayats have been recognised under the “Front Runner” category, reflecting their performance in governance and development.
The minister said the government’s primary objective is to ensure inclusive development by focusing on the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, youth, farmers and residents of remote rural areas. Empowering Panchayats, he noted, is central to achieving balanced and sustainable development throughout the state.
Speaking about the BV G-RAM G Scheme, Barman informed that the programme has been launched nationwide from July 1, 2026, with enhanced provisions for rural employment. Under the new scheme, beneficiaries will receive 125 days of guaranteed employment, an increase from the earlier provision of 100 days. The daily wage has also been fixed at Rs. 300, while the scheme now allows execution of 318 different categories of developmental works in rural areas.
According to the minister, the scheme is expected to transform rural infrastructure and livelihoods over the next five years. He emphasised that its successful implementation would require close coordination among Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, Gram Panchayats, Village Committees and government officials.
To increase public awareness about the programme, the state government is also considering organising district-level and sub-divisional workshops on the BV G-RAM G Scheme. These awareness programmes, he said, will help people better understand the opportunities available under the scheme and encourage greater public participation.
“The country will become stronger only when its villages become stronger,” Barman remarked, reiterating that empowering local self-government institutions remains one of the government’s highest priorities.
Among those present at the workshop were North Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Aparna Nath, Unakoti Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Amalendu Das, Khowai Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Aparna Singha Roy, Sepahijala Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Datta, South Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Dipak Datta, Dhalai Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Susmita Das and acting Sabhadhipati of West Tripura Zilla Parishad Biswajit Shil.
Secretary of the Rural Development (Panchayat) Department, Abhishek Singh, delivered the welcome address and also made detailed presentations on the Panchayat Development Plan 2026-27, the XVI Finance Commission Grants and the BV G-RAM G Scheme. During the programme, Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman officially unveiled two important publications—“Panchayat Development Plan 2026-27” and “Meri Panchayat Meri Dharohar”—intended to serve as reference documents for local bodies.
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Before the commencement of the main programme, the minister and other dignitaries paid floral tribute to the portrait of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. During the technical session, faculty members Chirabrata Debnath of the Rural Development Department, Dr. Shubhayan Chakraborty, an expert in Financial Management, and Panchayat Department Deputy Director Anupam Das held detailed discussions on future strategies for strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions and ensuring effective implementation of development programmes. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Joint Director of the Panchayat Department, Anurag Sen.
