Gogoi chairs first steering committee meeting of RGPSA

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the implementation of the Centrally sponsored Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) would go a long way in strengthening grassroots governance in the State.
Chairing the first steering committee meeting of RGPSA here today, Gogoi said it would also enhance accountability and increase the space for people's participation, especially women.
Gogoi advocated the need for providing the panchayats with adequate technical and administrative support, strengthening of infrastructure and e-governance, regular meetings of the gram sabha to strengthen Panchayati Raj in the State, an official release said.
Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, Rakibul Hussain said the objectives of the RGPSA were to enhance capacities and effectiveness of gram panchayats and gram sabhas, enable democratic decision-making and ensure accountability in panchayats and promote people's participation.

Strengthening the institutional structure for knowledge creation and capacity building of panchayats, promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution were its other objectives.
Hussain also said that the department has initiated a slew of measures aimed at enhancing capacity building and effectiveness of panchayats and gram sabhas through RGPSA, according to the release.