The Center is planning to facilitate partnership between gram panchayats and private companies to enhance economic activities in the rural areas. <br/><br/>The rural development ministry has selected 50,000 gram panchayats across the country where women self-help groups are active and have basic banking infrastructure and households with savings accounts for this purpose. <br/><br/>As part of the Mission Antyodaya, Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha gave a presentation to some start-ups on how these gram panchayats can play an important role in their respective businesses. <br/>'<br/>A senior official said that the government can build infrastructure and socially develop the rural areas but to increase economic activities in such areas villages need to be linked with markets. <br/><br/>He said the government would not provide subsidy or any other financial incentive to private companies and that it would merely act as facilitator between them and these panchayats.