Vishal Rana, Hamirpur

Hamirpur’s Panchayati Raj system is poised for a significant transformation ahead of the 2026 Panchayat elections. The process of reorganizing existing panchayats and forming new ones has already begun, with the Panchayati Raj Department actively working on proposals. Interestingly, instead of an increase in the number of panchayats, Hamirpur district may witness a reduction in their count. This shift comes in light of plans to upgrade administrative structures, including the establishment of one municipal corporation, one municipal council, and two new municipal committees.

The state government has directed all districts to submit detailed proposals on this matter. In Hamirpur, letters have been dispatched to all six block development officers (BDOs), tasking them with gathering feedback from local panchayat representatives regarding the need for new panchayats. However, there has been no demand or indication for forming additional panchayats in the district so far.

The landscape of local governance in Hamirpur is set to change with the issuance of notifications for a municipal corporation in Hamirpur, a municipal council in Nadaun, and municipal committees in Barsar and Bhoranj. These developments are expected to alter the Panchayati Raj structure significantly. For instance, some existing panchayats may merge into the newly formed municipal corporation, and Nadaun’s upgrade from a municipal committee to a municipal council will likely lead to ward expansions.

The Panchayati Raj Act mandates a minimum population of 1,000 people for a panchayat. Given these changes, a final decision on the restructuring will only be made after the BDOs submit their detailed reports.

The evolution of Hamirpur’s administrative framework reflects the government’s focus on modernizing governance structures to cater to urbanization and population dynamics. While these changes promise streamlined administration and better resource management, they also underscore the need for a balanced approach that preserves the essence of grassroots governance in rural areas.