The two web portals will be used to track development projects in India’s villages
On the occasion of the Panchayati Raj Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Gram Panchayats from across the country through a video conference on April 24. He launched two development projects, e-Gram Swaraj and Swamitva Yojana portals, to facilitate the Panchayat members in preparing and implementing the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). The aim behind the projects is to accelerate the pace of development of rural India. He also spoke about broadband and internet services and how this necessity has now reached to approximately 1.25 lakh Panchayats across the country.
The e-Gram Swaraj portal and mobile app will serve as a platform for tracking the daily activities of the Gram Panchayat. This portal would increase transparency and accountability by keeping a record of the Panchayati Raj’s activities which will be accessible to every villager through the GramSwaraj app. Under Swamitva Yojana, the second project launched by the Central government, drone technology will be used in mapping the rural households and properties, which would reduce property and land disputes. The portal will also help villagers in availing loans from banks easily and efficiently.
While addressing the efforts of social distancing, Mr Modi emphasised on how rural India has described this practice in simple words, through “Do Gaz Ki Doori (maintaining distance of two yards)” mantra. He also pointed out that villages have showcased immense traditional values and principles while fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. According to the Prime Minister, the pandemic has taught us to be self-reliant and self-sustainable. He also said that the Panchayati Raj system has played a crucial role in decentralising democracy and ensuring solidarity among the grassroots of the country.
