Odisha to restructure gram panchayats ahead of 2027 rural polls

Naik’s statement came a day after governor Hari Babu Kambhampati suggested that the state government restructure panchayats

Published on: Aug 13, 2025, 22:57:03 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Odisha government on Wednesday announced plans to restructure panchayats across the state to strengthen local governance and ensure that central and state government schemes effectively reach beneficiaries at the grassroots level.

Panchayati raj minister Rabi Narayan Nayak said the state has decided to restructure the gram panchayats before the three-tier panchayati raj elections and also restructure blocks ahead of the 2029 general elections for Lok Sabha and Odisha assembly (X/DrHariBabuK)

Panchayati raj minister Rabi Nayak said the exercise will be conducted ahead of the 2027 panchayat elections.

He also stated that the restructuring at the block level would be implemented subsequently, prior to the general elections, ensuring that administrative and electoral units are updated systematically.

“In the coming days, we have decided that a panchayat reorganisation will be conducted. The move will be done in accordance with people’s wishes and for maximum development of the block or panchayat,” he said.

Officials said there would be a massive overhaul of village boundaries with 1,635 new revenue villages expected to be notified shortly. To ensure clarity in administrative records, the government has issued a standard operating procedure to ensure clear and non-overlapping demarcation of village boundaries.

A special committee will be formed to prepare the blueprint for reorganisation, outlining changes in administrative boundaries, governance structure, and resource allocation. The process will also take into account population growth, accessibility, and the need for improved local administration, he said.

The state aims to enhance the efficiency of panchayati governance and ensure that each beneficiary receives government services in a timely manner.

Odisha governor Haribabu Kambhampati had earlier emphasised strengthening gram panchayats for the successful implementation of both central and state development schemes. The committee will ensure that local units are expanded where necessary to accommodate future growth and service delivery needs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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