Bengal to introduce Bill shifting Gram Panchayat financial approval powers

MP, July 14, 2026, Kolkata: The West Bengal government will introduce a Bill in the Assembly to divest Gram Panchayat pradhans of their financial powers, state Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh announced on Tuesday.

The announcement came after Ghosh held a meeting with Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to review agriculture, horticulture, rural development and the Panchayati Raj system.

"The financial powers of panchayat pradhans will be taken away through a Bill. The authority to clear bills has led to corruption and violence at the grassroots level. These powers will instead be vested in government officials, as is the practice in several other states," Ghosh told reporters.

The proposed legislation marks a significant shift in the functioning of gram panchayats, with financial approvals set to move from elected representatives to government officials.

Ghosh claimed the state's panchayat administration had been left in disarray, alleging that many pradhans were "absconding" and that the existing system lacked adequate manpower.

"Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured us of full support from the Centre. But our panchayat structure is in poor shape. There is a shortage of personnel, many pradhans are on the run, and administrative cooperation has been limited. Despite these constraints, work is continuing," he said.

The minister also announced that the Centre had sanctioned one lakh additional houses for West Bengal under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

Surveys to identify beneficiaries are currently underway, he said.

Acknowledging that the proposed overhaul could create temporary administrative difficulties, Ghosh said the transition would be completed quickly.

"There may be some initial inconvenience, but everything will be put in order within a week," he said.