J&K hosts South Goa Zilla Panchayat delegation for Panchayati Raj knowledge exchange
Blazing Tales News Service
SRINAGAR, July 27: The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR), Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday hosted a high-level delegation from the South Goa Zilla Panchayat at Panchayat Bhawan, Budgam, as part of an inter-state knowledge exchange programme aimed at strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions through mutual learning and the sharing of best practices.
The delegation was led by South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Siddharth Dessai, Chief Executive Officer Vikas Kamble and Chief Accounts Officer Agostinho Fernandes, along with 19 elected members of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat.
The visiting delegation was welcomed by Director, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Riyaz Ahmad Wani, Joint Director (Administration) RDD Kashmir Nasir Mahmood Khan, senior officers of the department, members of the State Panchayat Resource Centre (SPRC) and representatives of award-winning Panchayats from Jammu and Kashmir.
The technical session began with a detailed presentation by experts from the State Panchayat Resource Centre, highlighting the structure, functioning, achievements, innovations and best practices of the Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir. The presentation showcased the Union Territory’s initiatives to strengthen grassroots governance, improve rural service delivery, promote transparency and encourage community participation.
The programme also featured an experience-sharing session in which representatives of award-winning Panchayats highlighted successful initiatives and innovative governance practices implemented at the grassroots level.
Members of the South Goa delegation interacted with officers and Panchayat representatives during an open discussion, exchanging ideas, experiences and practical approaches to strengthening local self-governance. The interactive session served as a platform for cross-learning and exploring opportunities to adopt successful governance models across states.
Addressing the gathering, Director RDD Riyaz Ahmad Wani underscored the importance of collaborative learning among Panchayati Raj Institutions and said such exposure visits play a vital role in enhancing governance, capacity building and rural development.
He reiterated Jammu and Kashmir’s commitment to empowering Panchayats and promoting inclusive, participatory and transparent rural governance.
“The District Development Council has played a significant role in strengthening grassroots democracy. Although the elected bodies have recently completed their tenure and we are in the process of fresh elections, these institutions have contributed immensely to deepening democratic values, promoting transparency and accelerating rural development,” Wani said.
He added that interactions of this nature provide an invaluable opportunity for mutual learning, exchange of experiences and adoption of best practices, ultimately contributing to stronger local governance across the country.
