Mahatma Gandhi said that the plans for the development of villages should be tailored to the needs and priorities of the people through the available resources and it should use local resources on the basis of a fair, inclusive, transparent, and participatory process.

It is necessary to conform to local requirements based on the principle of Antyodaya. In order to realize this vision of Bapu's village Swaraj, the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has done remarkable work and efforts during the last nearly six years.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Gram Panchayat Development Scheme (GPDP) in 2015 to formulate and implement the development plans of the villages to suit the needs at the local level with the resolve of Gramodaya. The 14th Finance Commission had recommended increasing the grant amount for the development of villages for five years as compared to the 13th Finance Commission. The Ministry gave practical training to all Gram Panchayats to prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plan. Under this, the use of funds of the 14th Finance Commission, State Finance Commission, MNREGA and NRLM was ensured in the development work. 

The people of the village are thinking out of the box for local development and are preparing effective plans to solve the problems that have been going on for years. Gram Sabhas are also presenting the progress report of the schemes, list of beneficiaries, and report of the work being done every year. Gram Panchayats are working effectively in various matters like poverty alleviation, education, health, sanitation, food security, housing, employment, nutrition, clean drinking water, road construction, electricity and waste management. 

The government launched the reorganized National Village Swaraj Abhiyan on April 24, 2018, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day. The main objective of this scheme is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal, with mission Antyodaya, with emphasis on strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions in 117 aspirational districts of the country.

Training and capacity building of Panchayat representatives and employees, technical and administrative support to Gram Panchayats, and development of infrastructure in Gram Panchayats are being focused. 

To strengthen e-governance in Panchayati Raj institutions, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has made the functioning of Panchayats more transparent by launching the e-Gram Swaraj portal. Panchayats are being connected to the optical fiber network. Geographical tagging of 6.14 lakh development works done in Panchayats has been done.

The work done in Panchayats has to be paid or any other transaction has been digitized. The participation of women representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions has reached 45 percent. 

Panchayat-level representatives and ASHA workers are battling as a first-line corona warrior from this challenge of Corona's global epidemic. Stand on their front, side by side with health workers.

Panchayati Raj Day is best suited to implement Bapu's concept of Swaraj and review its progress. This day provides an opportunity for self-reflection and evaluation. It is with this spirit that we should all start to realize the dreams of 135 crore countrymen.