The National Law University, Tripura (NLU Tripura) has taken another step towards strengthening grassroots governance by organising a workshop on the **“Final Evaluation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) 2026–2027.”**
The programme, held in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development (Panchayat), Government of Tripura, took place at the State Panchayat Resource Centre, A.D. Nagar, Agartala.
The workshop was organised as part of the ongoing project, **“Handholding Support to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Village Committees (VCs) in Tripura for Preparation of Theme-based GPDP.”** The initiative seeks to improve local-level planning by making development plans more participatory, need-based and responsive to grassroots priorities.
The inaugural session was addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, Vice-Chancellor of NLU Tripura, and Dr. Anurag Sen, Joint Director, Department of Rural Development (Panchayat).
During the technical sessions, project teams evaluated draft GPDPs prepared for **713 Gram Panchayats and Village Committees** across five districts — Dhalai, Unakoti, North Tripura, Khowai and South Tripura. The teams reviewed the plans, identified gaps and suggested measures aimed at ensuring their effective implementation.
The evaluation marks a crucial stage in the second phase of NLU Tripura’s initiative. The project has involved extensive field visits and workshops at Rural Development Blocks, Gram Panchayats and Village Committees to ensure that local development plans reflect community needs and priorities.
NLU Tripura has been providing technical and academic support for grassroots planning since signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Rural Development (Panchayat) in 2024.
Prof. Singh thanked the state government for entrusting the University with the responsibility and appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Panchayat Department, district-level teams, faculty mentors and project staff in advancing the initiative.
The workshop witnessed participation from **more than 600 representatives and officials** associated with Gram Panchayats and Village Committees, along with faculty members of the State Panchayat Resource Centre and mentors from NLU Tripura.
The final evaluation is expected to further refine the draft development plans, address implementation gaps and facilitate their smooth rollout. The initiative is also expected to strengthen participatory planning and improve the effectiveness of grassroots governance across Tripura.
