Panchayati Raj Ministry to Launch People's Plan Campaign Across India Starting October 2

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will roll out the People's Plan Campaign from October 2, facilitating the creation of inclusive Panchayat Development Plans for the financial year 2026-27. This initiative aims to enhance participatory planning at the grassroots level.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj announced that the Peoples Plan Campaign will launch across all states and Union territories starting October 2. This initiative aims to prepare Panchayat Development Plans (PDPs) for the financial year 2026-27. Since its inception in 2018, the campaign has facilitated panchayats in creating evidence-based and inclusive plans through special gram sabha meetings.

Data from the eGramSwaraj Portal shows that over 18.13 lakh Panchayat Development Plans have been uploaded since 2019-20. These include Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), Block Panchayat Development Plans (BPDPs), and District Panchayat Development Plans (DPDPs). Of these, more than 2.52 lakh plans are part of the ongoing exercise for 2025-26.

Focus on Grassroots Planning

The extensive preparation of Panchayat Development Plans highlights the participatory planning process's depth and scale. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with various stakeholders, leads this effort, strengthening grassroots institutions nationwide. The response from states, Union territories, and Panchayati Raj Institutions has been positive over the years.

To ensure a coordinated effort for this year's campaign, the ministry has initiated virtual interactions with state and UT Panchayati Raj departments and other stakeholders. These sessions aim to provide guidance, clarify expectations, and ensure readiness at every level for the campaign's roll-out.

Engagement with Stakeholders

Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, conducted a virtual meeting on Friday. This meeting involved Panchayati Raj departments from all states and UTs and State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs). The focus was on sharing roll-out strategies, learning from past editions, and assessing state-level preparations.

The ministry has reached out to 20 line ministries and departments within the Government of India. They have requested these entities to instruct their respective state/UT departments to ensure active participation of frontline staff in special gram sabha meetings during the campaign.

Preparations for Launch

States and UTs have been asked to activate monitoring platforms and appoint nodal officers at various levels. They are also tasked with conducting facilitator orientations, finalising gram sabha meeting schedules, and displaying public information boards in gram panchayats by September's end.

The special gram sabhas scheduled for October 2 will officially kick off the Peoples Plan Campaign for 2025-26. During this campaign, gram sabhas will review previous GPDPs using digital tools like eGramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat App, and Panchayat NIRNAY. This review will help assess progress, identify delays, and address challenges for corrective measures.

Additionally, they will evaluate unspent Central Finance Commission grants—both tied and untied—and prioritise completing unfinished projects. These efforts aim to enhance efficiency and accountability in local governance.

With inputs from PTI