Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 2 : The Karnataka government is set to commemorate three decades of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 with the National Swaraj Conference scheduled for November 13 and 14, said a press release.
This initiative aims to honor Mahatma Gandhi's vision of village self-governance, encapsulated in his belief that "India's heart lies in the villages," as stated by Priyank Kharge, the state's Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
In this regard, the Karnataka state government will organize programs at the national level seminars, round table councils, workshops, dialogues and discussions will be organized to review the progress of the Panchayat system in Karnataka for 30 years and formulate the Karnataka Swarajya Charter applicable for the next 30 years.
Based on the issues raised after these meetings, the Karnataka Swarajya Charter will be formulated with a blueprint for further reforms in the panchayat system of Karnataka and India for the next 30 years in relation to social, economic and political issues.
Prominent experts from various fields including social, economic, legal, and administrative will be invited to contribute to these discussions. The outcomes of these sessions will culminate in the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Declaration, which will outline key decisions and reforms.
The logo was unveiled by the minister at the event. Inspired by the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi, the National Swaraj Conference is being organized based on the principles of Satya (Truth), Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Asteya (Honesty) and Maitri (Brotherhood).
The purpose of this conference is that India is not built on the basis of discrimination and conflict of interests; Instead, he explained that it is to assert that humanistic Indianism is firmly based on the principle.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, said, "We will reflect on the achievements of the Panchayat system over the last 30 years and chart a course for the future. Our goal is to create a Karnataka Swarajya Charter, truly reflecting Mahatma Gandhi ideals of truth, non-violence, honesty, and brotherhood; that the principles of democracy can be made accessible to every single village in our state."
"That is not a celebration, but strengthening local governance and empowering our communities. In engaging with various professions, we will challenge current practice, move forward with actionable solutions that should strike resonance with the needs of citizens, foster dialogue, and join us in building a more inclusive and equitable society that honors the spirit of our Constitution and the vision of our founding leaders," he added.
He further said, "The National Swaraj Conference will be among those milestone moments for Karnataka's local governance to pay a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. It promises to bring together people and community leaders into a dialogue for formulating an effective demand leading up to full-fledged reforms in the Panchayat system. Not only is this a festival, but it is also a promise to empower our villages so that each citizen will get his or her respective rights respecting the principles of democracy and justice."
"The output of this conference will eventually help build the vision for the next 30 years and strengthen Karnataka's commitments towards grassroots governance and sustainable development," he added.