Ranchi: The ‘Gram Parliament – Jharkhand Chapter Conclave 2025’ was held in Ranchi on Saturday, drawing active participation from grassroots leaders, social workers, administrative officials and policy experts from across the state. The event served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on rural development, democratic participation, and the need to integrate local voices directly into the policymaking process.
Addressing the gathering, Palamu MLA Deepika Pandey Singh emphasized the critical role of Gram Sabhas in shaping the future of governance. She said that Gram Parliament is the most authentic and effective platform for rural democracy, and until the real voices of villages—especially women, youth, and farmers—are included in policy formulation, development will remain incomplete. Her remarks set the tone for a day of deliberation focused on strengthening local governance structures and improving accountability in the implementation of government schemes.
Throughout the conclave, speakers raised concerns about the lack of prioritization of Gram Sabha recommendations in official planning, and highlighted the importance of community involvement in monitoring schemes such as MGNREGA and PMAY. The role of women in panchayati institutions was also discussed, with participants calling for their presence to go beyond symbolic representation to actual leadership in decision-making processes. A notable proposal that emerged was the idea of a Digital Gram Parliament, a technological initiative that would enable villagers to report issues directly to state-level authorities, ensuring real-time feedback and improved responsiveness.