Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has urged public representatives to focus on building smart and women-friendly Panchayats while ensuring sustainable development. Speaking at the state-level One-Day Programme on Ceremonial Distribution of 475 Computers and Award Distribution Programme for National Panchayat Award winners at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, he emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system.
“The government is working to strengthen Panchayat infrastructure, promote good governance, and drive holistic development in rural areas,” CM Saha stated. He highlighted Tripura’s remarkable progress in the Panchayat Development Index, attributing it to teamwork and innovative governance.
He acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, stating that rural development is essential for national progress, as 70-75% of India’s population lives in villages. The Chief Minister also noted that Tripura has improved its Panchayat Devolution Index ranking from 13th-14th place (before 2015) to 7th place.
CM Saha outlined several developmental initiatives, including:
- Smart Panchayats with solar power and e-governance integration.
- Groundwater level enhancement and waste management.
- Women- and child-friendly Panchayats, with Tripura already receiving national recognition in this category.
- Digital governance, making financial transactions and record-keeping more efficient.
“Tripura is the only state in India where e-governance has been implemented at the three-tier Panchayat level, reinforcing PM Modi’s Digital India vision,” he added.
The Chief Minister urged public representatives to introduce innovative ideas to accelerate rural development, ensuring that Tripura remains a leader in Panchayat reforms and governance.
