Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh observed that the implementation of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) is not up to the mark. He said developing Panchayats especially in the scheduled areas would augur a complete transformation for overall development of the country.<br/> <br/>He was speaking after inaugurating the one day 'National Conference of Tribal Women Gram Panchayat presidents' underway in Vijayawada today as part of 'Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan' celebrations. The Union Minister said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to revamp Panchayats in clusters under RURBAN MISSION and the Centre has decided to provide Rs. 2 lakh crores to the least of the Panchayats spread across the country. <br/><br/>On pilot basis, the Minister said 300 Panchayats across the country have been identified for development, 35 being in Andhra Pradesh. He explained that Panchayat presidents will be enlightened and educated on their roles and responsibilities and their executive powers for ushering an inclusive growth in each village. Mr. Birender Singh elaborated it by saying that overall development envisioned in each of the village would not only bring in a sea change in that village but also would contribute to the GDP enormously.<br/><br/>The Union Minister said on 24th April on the occasion of national panchyatraj diwas a programme is being organised by the Centre at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand where Prime Minister Modi would be attending to emphasise the fact that with the development and prosperity of villages only nation as a whole can prorgress and prosper. <br/> <br/>The Conference underway at Vijayawada with the theme 'Role of Women Gram Panchayat Presidents in the Development of Fifth Schedule areas', women panchayat presidents from tribal areas spread over 10 States, i.e., Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh are participating to deliberate and discus problems and challenges being faced by the tribal Sarpanches. <br/><br/>About 850 Tribal Women Panchayat presidents are attending the conference. The Conference will primarily focus on three major issues-Implementation of Panchayats in Scheduled Areas, implementation of Gram Panchayat plans and Women related issues. The government would come out with a proper action plan on welfare of the people in the tribal areas.<br/><br/>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu presided over the conference. Union Minister of State for Panchayat Raj Nihal Chand, Union minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Ram Kripal Yadav, Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Juel Oram participated in the event.