Director Panchayati Raj conducts comprehensive inspection tour across Udhampur Panchayats
Jun 28, 2025
UDHAMPUR: Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, undertook a comprehensive inspection tour of various panchayats in Udhampur district on Saturday.
The visit included detailed reviews of Panchayat Ghars, Panchayat Learning Centres and other key public infrastructure.
Among the panchayats visited were Rathian West, Rathian East, Kawa Lower, Samwal and Majalta.
During the tour, the Director thoroughly inspected the recently constructed Panchayat Ghars, with a specific focus on construction quality.
He directed the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Udhampur and the concerned Block Development Officers to maintain the highest standards, stating, "These Panchayat Ghars function as grassroots-level secretariats. They not only serve as offices for elected representatives but also provide direct access to officials from various departments. Therefore, even minor lapses in construction are unacceptable."
He further emphasized the need to establish Common Service Centres (CSCs) in all Panchayat Ghars. These centres, he noted, would enable rural residents to access essential government services online.
Highlighting the importance of transparency and digital governance, Sham Lal instructed officials to actively promote the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Portal among the public.
"The PAI Portal clearly indicates the strengths and areas for improvement across various sectors of each panchayat," he said.
He also mandated that updated PAI scores be prominently displayed outside each Panchayat Ghar to ensure public awareness of local governance performance. He emphasized the need to align panchayat development with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to focus particularly on sectors where any panchayat is lagging behind.
The Director announced that Phase 0.2 of the Panchayat Advancement Index will start shortly, urging all panchayats to participate proactively. In preparation, the department will organize training programs at the district and block levels to benefit both government personnel and local citizens.
During the visit, the Director also inspected the newly established Panchayat Learning Centre at Majalta. He commended the centre as a model initiative and stated, "This centre should become a vibrant hub for community engagement and a source of inspiration for other panchayats. Future block-level training programs will also be conducted here, as it offers a highly suitable environment."
In addition to these visits, Sham Lal reviewed several ongoing development projects and issued on-the-spot directions to expedite progress. He was accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, concerned Block Development Officers, and other departmental officials.
