Kupwara: A two-day district-level cluster workshop on capacity building and handholding support for preparing quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) was organised in Kupwara, with a special focus on 24 selected panchayats of the district.
The workshop was organised by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
The programme aimed to strengthen grassroots governance through comprehensive and effective planning. It covered a total of 287 panchayats across 24 blocks of the district. The focus was on identifying priority areas, ensuring the proper use of development funds, and promoting people’s participation in the planning process.
Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Arshid Qadir Bhat attended the workshop as the chief guest. He urged prominent citizens, retired employees, social workers, and ex-servicemen to actively participate in Gram Sabhas to make development plans more inclusive and need-based.
During the training, participants were informed about key aspects of panchayat planning, including community mobilisation, data collection, and sector-wise planning. Practical sessions were also conducted to guide officials and elected representatives in drafting, finalising, and approving quality GPDPs.
Similar workshops were also organised in Kralpora and Handwara to extend capacity-building support to more panchayat representatives.
Speaking on the occasion, ACP Bhat said the initiative would strengthen decentralised planning, improve transparency, and ensure that development plans reflect the real needs of the people across Kupwara district.
