The Rural Development and Panchayats Department is responsible for the implementation of various centrally Sponsored and State Funded Schemes for poverty alleviation, employment generation, sanitation, capacity building, women’s social and economic empowerments, apart from provision of basic amenities and services. The guiding and driving force of Rural Development and Panchayats Department is to endow the Panchayats (Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad) with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self Govt. in Rural areas of the State. 73rd amendment of Constitution of India has provided social scenario with assured participation of rural people especially women folk and weaker section of society, in achieving their envisaged aspirations and other needs. There are 12809 Gram Panchayats and 141 Block Samites and 20 Zila Parishads under the Preview of the department.

Sh.Ranjit Singh Brahmpura is the Hon’ble Minister for Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. Sh. J.S Sandhu, IAS is the Finacial Commissioner Rural Development Panchayats since 26.02.2009. Sh. Gurdev Singh Sidhu, IAS is the Director Rural Development and Panchayats since 12.04.2007. Sh. Satwant Singh Johal, IAS is the Joint Development Commissioner(IRD).

Functions and Duties

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats is assigned with the duty of assisting the PRIs in discharging of its constitutional obligations. The main functions and duties of the offices and employees working in the department are :-

1	Providing administrative frame-work for smooth functioning of the PRIs.
2	Rendering assistance in implementing schemes and projects through PRIs.
3	To Extend the technical support and know how to PRIs in order to execute various development schemes at the different levels.
4	Providing appropriate forum for redressal of grievances of rural people concerning the Department.
5	Arranging training programme and courses suitable to cater to the needs of PRIs and rural masses.
6	Rendering help in connection with election of PRI bodies.
7	Affording forum of planning at the micro level and consolidating them at the District level through constitutional bodies of State District Planning Boards.
8	Providing frame work of Quasi judicial Courts of Collector and Commissioner to regulate and utilized the shamlat land for the benefit of Panchayats and also to protect the common property of the PRIs.
9	Mobilizing women the rural area to make them aware of their social needs and strengthen their economic status.