Tamil Nadu Gram Sabha Meetings on November 1: Guidelines Issued to All Districts

Gram Sabha meetings will be held across Tamil Nadu on November 1, 2026, to mark Local Bodies Day. The Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has directed all village panchayats to conduct the meetings and instructed officials not to hold them at religious places of worship under any circumstances.

Amudhavalli, Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, has issued a circular to all district collectors except Chennai, outlining the arrangements for the meetings.

Gram Sabha Meeting Timings and Guidelines

According to the circular, Gram Sabha meetings must be conducted in all village panchayats at around 11:00 AM on November 1. The meetings should follow a rotational system across panchayat wards.

Officials must inform villagers in advance about the meeting venue and timing. The meetings should begin formally only after ensuring the required minimum attendance.

The circular also clearly states that Gram Sabha meetings must not be conducted at any religious place of worship.

Key Issues to Be Discussed

The meetings will focus on several important rural development and public welfare issues, including:

- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)

- Labour welfare and skill development

- Drinking water facilities

- Street lighting and road infrastructure

- Housing schemes

- Local development and village administration

These discussions aim to improve transparency, strengthen local governance and address the needs of village residents.

Namma Grama Sabha App for Meeting Records

Officials have been instructed to enter the details of the Gram Sabha meetings immediately through the Namma Grama Sabha mobile application.

District collectors must also ensure that detailed reports on the meetings are submitted to the Directorate of Rural Development on the same day.

The initiative is intended to strengthen public participation and improve accountability in village-level administration across Tamil Nadu.