LUCKNOW, Oct. 15 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that gram panchayats are not merely administrative units but the soul of rural development, stressing the need to make them economically self-reliant through transparency, technology and optimal use of local resources. Reviewing the functioning of the panchayati raj department, the CM directed officials to strengthen panchayats' own revenue sources through reforms and digital systems. The process of collecting local taxes and user charges has been made online to enhance transparency and accountability.He instructed the deployment of civil engineers or architects in every district panchayat to ensure quality and transparency in approving building maps and executing local construction projects. To boost panchayat income and improve citizen services, CM Yogi directed that Aadhaar centres be opened in all gram secretariats, allowing villagers to access Aadhaar enrolment and updates while generating revenue for the panchayats. He also asked officials to lease ponds and water bodies in a time-bound manner and to use the revenue for water conservation, Har Ghar Nal scheme and other rural welfare activities. A clear policy is being framed for this purpose. The CM said that the stronger the self-financing capacity of panchayats, the faster will be rural development. He also called for training panchayat representatives in financial management, digital service delivery and citizen facilitation. "The prosperity of gram panchayats is the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Every panchayat should become a symbol of service, cleanliness, and self-reliance," Yogi said....