The Prime Minister has asserted that centre is keen to help the states to improve the working of the Panchayati institutions across the country. Addressing a function to mark the National Panchayati day in New Delhi, he said despite the administrative and constitutional measures, still there is a long way to go for full decentralization of powers to these institutions. Dr. Singh said that past experience should guide us to take the process forward and make it more people centric. He said Panchayati Raj institutions are significantly contributing in rural development, particularly in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and Indira Awas Yojna. He said government is to enhance the capacity of these institutions so as to make their working more effective. He said these panchyats have become the part of governance process and called for regular election of these institutions in the states. He said that participation of people in local body elections in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir in large numbers show that people exercise their right of franchise and they want to take administarative decisions themselves. Speaking on the occasion the NAC Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi called for giving women a greater role in the decision making process at the grass root level. She strongly advocated for regular meetings of Panchayati Institutions to resolve the day to day problems of people. Earlier the Prime Minister conferred Panchayat Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar to seven states for their excellent performance.