Vande Mataram to be sung every morning in Rajasthan Panchayati Raj offices: Minister

Minister Madan Dilawar said that the National Song will be sung every morning and the National Anthem will be sung at the end of working hours in all Panchayati Raj offices in Rajasthan.

Panchayati Raj Minister said that only made-in-India products will be used in all Ministry offices. He added that if foreign-made items are found to be in use, the cost will be recovered from the relevant authority and exemption will be granted only in unavoidable cases.

Responding to the debate on the demand for grant to the Panchayati Raj Department in the Assembly on Thursday night (February 26, 2026), Mr. Dilawar said that the State government continues to move forward with its commitment to empower villages and improve governance at the grassroots level.

After the discussion, the Assembly accepted the ministry’s grant requests by voice vote.

Mr. Dilawar said ministry officials will visit villages at least four times a month to organize “Ratri Chaupal” and spend the night there.

He said that the official vehicles of officials who do not visit the village will be withdrawn and left in the vehicle pool. He also said authorities would now be allowed to inspect areas beyond their assigned jurisdiction to improve monitoring.

The minister said the cattle sheds, at an estimated cost of ₹400 crore, will be developed on 20 hectares of land along with ponds and plantation areas.

Based on drone surveys, ‘Pattas’ (land titles) will be issued in the name of temples in rural residential areas.

“This will help resolve issues related to water and electricity connections and land ownership disputes,” he said.

Mr. Dilawar said that all villages in the state will be illuminated with street lights and a special drive will be initiated to remove encroachments, including ponds.

The minister stated that rural development plans and construction works have been uploaded on a portal to increase transparency.

The minister said licenses will now be mandatory for the sale of meat in gram panchayats, similar to municipal rules. He said sales will be allowed only in commercial stores with valid health certificates and strict action will be taken against violators.

Expressing concern over the recruitment of clerks in 2013, Mr. Dilawar said serious irregularities, including fake experience certificates and doctored mark sheets, had come to light and announced that the matter would be referred to the SOG for investigation.