Addressing a function to mark “National Panchayati Raj Divas 2013” in New Delhi this morning, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that participation of local people has increased in panchayats and expressed satisfaction that people have become more aware about politics by strengthening panchyat.

The Prime Minister said that Centre has allocated over six thousand four hundred crore rupees in the 12th five-year plan for panchayats which is about ten times higher than the allocation in the 11th plan. He hoped that states will make full utilization of the allocated money for strengthening local self government institutions.

Dr Singh assured all possible Central assistance to the states to make development process more inclusive and sustainable.

Dr Singh said that 15 States have reserved 50 per cent seats for women in Panchayats which have helped more than a million women to get elected to the local bodies. He also called for further strengthening of the panchayati raj institutions across the country.

The Prime Minister asked states to ensure that decentralization of power under panchayati raj system becomes a reality and elected representatives get their powers and responsibilities in real sense of the term for the best interest of the country.