On October 2nd, a special Gram Sabha will be held across all Gram Panchayats in Odisha to mark Gandhi Jayanti. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has urged all Sarpanchs to champion Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of 'Gram Swaraj' (Village Self-rule) by making these sessions deeply people-centric.
The upcoming gatherings will focus on grassroots empowerment, prioritizing local issues, needs, and development potential through active community participation. A major highlight will be the 'Reform Utsav', which aims to shape future rural development plans under the 'People's Plan Campaign 2026-27' using direct public opinion as its foundation.
Sarpanchs have been instructed to ensure high voter and villager engagement, fostering open discussions on reformative measures, local governance, and various government welfare schemes. By shifting the planning process directly to the village level, the state government aims to build transparency and ensure sustainable, community-driven growth across all rural regions.