Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge Announces National Swaraj Conference
Celebrating 30 Years of the Panchayat Raj Act
The Karnataka government will commemorate three decades of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 with the National Swaraj Conference on November 13 and 14. This initiative aims to honor Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of village self-governance, encapsulated in his belief that ‘India’s heart lies in the villages,’ as stated by Priyank Kharge, the state’s Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
The Karnataka state government will organize national-level programs including seminars, round table councils, workshops, dialogues, and discussions. These events will review the progress of the Panchayat system in Karnataka over the past 30 years and formulate the Karnataka Swarajya Charter for the next 30 years.
Prominent experts from various fields such as social, economic, legal, and administrative will be invited to contribute to these discussions. The outcomes will culminate in the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Declaration, outlining key decisions and reforms.
The conference, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of Satya (Truth), Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Asteya (Honesty), and Maitri (Brotherhood), aims to assert that India is built on humanistic principles rather than discrimination and conflict of interests.
Minister Priyank Kharge emphasized, ‘We will reflect on the achievements of the Panchayat system over the last 30 years and chart a course for the future. Our goal is to create a Karnataka Swarajya Charter, truly reflecting Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of truth, non-violence, honesty, and brotherhood.’
He added, ‘This is not just a celebration but a step towards strengthening local governance and empowering our communities. By engaging with various professions, we will challenge current practices and move forward with actionable solutions that resonate with citizens’ needs.’
The National Swaraj Conference aims to be a milestone for Karnataka’s local governance, bringing together people and community leaders to formulate effective reforms in the Panchayat system. The conference’s output will help build a vision for the next 30 years, strengthening Karnataka’s commitment to grassroots governance and sustainable development.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has many big cities like Bengaluru, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.
Minister Priyank Kharge -: Priyank Kharge is a politician from Karnataka. He is a minister in the Karnataka government and works on important projects for the state.
National Swaraj Conference -: The National Swaraj Conference is a big meeting where people talk about how villages can govern themselves better. ‘Swaraj’ means self-rule or self-governance.
Panchayat Raj Act -: The Panchayat Raj Act is a law that helps villages in India to govern themselves. It was made to give more power to local village councils called Panchayats.
Mahatma Gandhi -: Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader who helped India become free from British rule. He believed in simple living and self-governance for villages.
seminars -: Seminars are meetings where people talk and learn about specific topics. Experts share their knowledge and ideas during these sessions.
workshops -: Workshops are hands-on sessions where people learn by doing activities. They are designed to teach new skills or improve existing ones.
Karnataka Swarajya Charter -: The Karnataka Swarajya Charter will be a plan for how villages in Karnataka can govern themselves better over the next 30 years.
Karnataka Panchayat Raj Declaration -: The Karnataka Panchayat Raj Declaration will be a document that includes all the ideas and plans discussed during the conference. It will guide future actions for village governance.