IMPHAL: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department, Nemcha Kipgen participated in the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026 recently, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
Describing Rural India as the soul of India, Nemcha Kipgen highlighted the pivotal role of Gram Sabhas, Gram Panchayats, farmers, rural households, women and youth in shaping an inclusive and self-reliant India, an official report said. She emphasised that empowering local institutions and communities would be central to achieving sustainable and equitable development, the report also said.
Emphasising the aspirations of rural citizens for quality education, healthcare, roads, digital connectivity and better livelihoods, she called for greater innovation, convergence and people’s participation in implementing rural development programmes.
The minister further stated that flagship initiatives such as VB-G RAM, PMAY-G, NRLM, PMGSY, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and Digital India have the potential to transform Gram Panchayats into vibrant centres of development and Gram Sabhas into effective institutions of accountability.
She reaffirmed that an empowered rural India would serve as the foundation for achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, ensuring that development reaches every household with dignity, opportunity and inclusiveness.
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The Deputy Chief Minister further expressed sincere gratitude to Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, for their continued support and steadfast commitment towards the holistic development of Manipur. She acknowledged the Ministry’s invaluable assistance through various rural development initiatives, including MGNREGS, the special allocation of additional PMAY-G houses for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State, PMGSY, and flagship programmes such as Lakhpati Didi and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), among others.
The two-day national conference was inaugurated by Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and attended by Union Ministers of State, Ministers of Rural Development from various States, senior officials and distinguished delegates, the report added.
