Director Panchayati Raj J&K Sham Lal on Wednesday chaired a meeting to strategize the arrangements for holding special Gram Sabha cum-orientation program scheduled on November 15.

This nationwide initiative, marking the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, aims to strengthen local governance in tribal areas and promote the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

This marks the prelude to the anticipated "Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh" celebrations in 2025.

Speaking at the meeting attended by Assistant Commissioners of Panchayat, Sham Lal emphasized the importance of organizing the training program in 393 Panchayats on November 15, noting that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj are collaborating on this large-scale capacity-building campaign.

He said that Assistant Commissioners of Panchayat (ACPs) have been appointed as district-level nodal officers to manage the program across identified Gram Panchayats and villages in their respective areas.

The Director asked these officers to coordinate directly with village-level authorities to ensure all arrangements are in place for the scheduled Gram Sabha sessions.

He said that the planned sessions will cover various activities designed to educate and empower Panchayat members, and village functionaries. Training topics include FRA guidelines, the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), and the Panchayat Development Index (PDI).

 Additionally, each Gram Sabha will feature a resource person to guide the orientation, who could be a Rural Development Department trainer, a self-help group leader, or an Anganwadi worker.

Sham Lal underscored the importance of ensuring broad participation at each training session. "You have to ensure active engagement, attendance, and the scheduling of the training on the TMP portal,” he said, directing officials to upload completed session details to ensure transparency and accountability.

The day-long events will feature various activities like tree-planting activities under the theme "1 Ped Maa Ke Naam," pledges on cleanliness and anti-drug initiatives, and the National Anthem. Additionally, a Gram Sabha meeting will discuss the GP’s PDI score and the Gram Panchayat Development Plan for 2025-26.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have collaborated to launch this capacity-building campaign, focusing on strengthening Gram Sabhas and effectively implementing Forest Rights Act (FRA).