Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen urged stronger village institutions and community participation to realise the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026.
New Delhi, June 29: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Monday said that empowering villages and strengthening local self-governance would be key to achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, while calling for greater community participation and innovation in rural development programmes.
Kipgen, who holds the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj portfolio, was addressing the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
Describing rural India as the country's foundation, she said Gram Sabhas, Gram Panchayats, farmers, rural households, women and youth all have an important role in building an inclusive and self-reliant India. She stressed that strengthening local institutions and empowering communities would be essential for ensuring sustainable and equitable development.
The Deputy Chief Minister said rural communities aspire to better education, healthcare, roads, digital connectivity and improved livelihood opportunities. She called for greater innovation, convergence among government schemes and increased public participation to improve the implementation of rural development programmes.
Highlighting the impact of flagship schemes, Kipgen said 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 while making Gram Sabhas stronger institutions of accountability.
She reiterated that an empowered rural India would form the foundation of Viksit Bharat @2047, ensuring that development reaches every household with dignity, opportunity and inclusiveness.
Kipgen also thanked Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Ministry of Rural Development for their continued support to Manipur. She acknowledged the Centre's assistance through schemes including MGNREGS, the additional allocation of PMAY-G houses for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), PMGSY, Lakhpati Didi and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), among other rural development programmes.
The two-day national conference was inaugurated by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and attended by Union Ministers of State, Rural Development Ministers from various states, senior officials and other delegates.
