Jammu, Feb 02: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Monday inaugurated a three-day Regional Workshop on Capacity Building and Handholding Support for the Formulation of Quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) at the Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), Jammu. The workshop is organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad.
Speaking at the event, Aijaz Asad said democracy finds its most authentic expression at the Gram Panchayat level and that meaningful, inclusive development is possible only through participatory, evidence-based planning at the grassroots. He emphasized that planning at the village level defines development outcomes and ensures that community aspirations are reflected in local governance.
The Secretary noted that the initiative aims to facilitate the formulation of quality GPDPs in 285 Gram Panchayats—one from each Block of the Union Territory—which will serve as model plans for replication across other Panchayats. He described the partnership with NIRDPR as a milestone, and expressed confidence that it would usher in a new era of data-driven, outcome-oriented planning aligned with the vision of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
Highlighting the significance of quality planning, Aijaz Asad said well-formulated GPDPs strengthen local governance by addressing social, economic, and infrastructural needs in a balanced manner. He underscored the pivotal role of the Gram Sabha, stating that meaningful public participation is essential for plans to be reflective of community priorities. He also stressed that GPDPs must be scientific, evidence-based, and focused on sustainable, long-term development.
The event was attended by Director General, IMPARD, Rehana Batul; Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K, Sham Lal; Project Head, NIRDPR, Dr. A. K. Banja; experts from NIRDPR; Master Trainers; senior departmental officers; and field functionaries including Panchayat Secretaries and Account Assistants.
Rehana Batul, Director General, IMPARD, highlighted the role of GPDPs in holistic rural development and stressed the need for structured capacity-building initiatives to enhance planning and execution at the Panchayat level.
Sham Lal, Director Panchayati Raj, said innovative initiatives and large-scale capacity-building programmes are transforming rural governance in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that the project would result in 285 model GPDPs supported through mentoring and handholding, which would serve as valuable templates across the Union Territory. He emphasized that empowered Panchayats lead to empowered communities and a more self-reliant rural Jammu and Kashmir.
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