Conforming to the vision and mission of Government of Sikkim to strengthen the course of local self Government, some of the initiatives and interventions undertaken by the Directorate which has been instrumental in bringing about significant positive change in the socio-economic landscape of rural Sikkim are as follows:

1. Decentralization of Powers to PRIs

The Panchayati Raj in Sikkim is governed by the Sikkim Panchayat Act, 1993 which was enacted and notified on October 10, 1993. The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution under article 243G has stipulated 29 subjects to be transferred to the Panchayati Raj Institution. For the same purpose, “active mapping” was carried out to chalk out the delegation of responsibilities between the Zilla Panchayats and Gram Panchayats. The implementation of the activity mapping has brought about more decentralization of funds, functions & functionaries.

2. Infrastructural Initiatives

a. Village Administrative Centers

The State Government under its decentralization policy has devolved the three Fs, i.e. Funds, Functionaries and Functions to every Gram Panchayat Units. The objective of the same is to enable these grass root institutions to take decision in matters related to day to day socio-economic life of the people. To enable effective functioning in the Gram Panchayat Units, the Directorate has set up Village Administrative Centers. Out of the 176 GPUs in the state, 160 GPUs have their own Village Administrative Centers (VAC) and the remaining 16 will be taken up in the near future.

b. Community Recreational Centre

With the objective of providing a common space for people in villages to come together during occasions and related engagements, Community Recreational Centers have been created throughout the State. During the Sikkim Village tour of the Hon’ble Chief Minister in 2011, demands for 164 Community Centers were placed by the members of the public and Panchayats.

c. Zilla Panchayat Bhawan

Utmost care has been taken to ensure that State of art physical infrastructure is provided at all district level for the functionaries of Panchayati Raj. At the District level, elected representatives of the Zilla have their own Zilla Panchayat Bhawans equipped with all office facilities.

d. Construction of State Panchayat Resource Centre (SPRC) & District Panchayat Resource Centre (DPRC)

With the dearth of proper venues for training large number of ERs and functionaries especially on the computer applications and related matters, 1 SPRC in Gangtok and 1 DPRC for West District from the center has been approved under RGPSA.

3. Deployment of functionaries

For the smooth functioning of the Village Administrative Centers and to assist the elected representatives in planning implementation and monitoring all the development schemes of the State and Central Government, the Directorate of Panchayati Raj has over the years deployed many village level functionaries in the capacity of Panchayat Accounts Assistants, Panchayat Development Assistant and Barefoot Engineers. It assistants are posted at the Block level to assist GPUs under its jurisdiction to provide assistance in resolving issues related to e-Panchayat, hardware and software issues.

4. Capacity Building and Training

Directorate has always striven to build the capacity of the Elected Representatives and the functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institution for all round development of the villages. This has been ensured through regular sensitization programmes, orientations and workshops on various PRI issues, Finance Commission recommendations and Grants, PRI Accounting system and e-Panchayat Applications.

5. Exposure Tours

To sensitize the Gram Panchayat Units and to create an enabling atmosphere for all elected representatives to see and learn from progressive GPUs in the State and in the country, the Directorate organizes regular exposure tours for the Panchayats and their functionaries. These tours encourages peer learning with first hand exposure to the best practices of Panchayati Raj system being implemented in that Gram Panchayat.

6. Social Audits cum Vigilance committees

To monitor and evaluate the programs at village level, Social Audit cum Vigilance Committees have been constituted in all Gram Panchayats Units. Through a notification, specific terms of reference have been given to the Committee including a directive that no final payment shall be made under any programme unless the committee verifies and gives its clearance.

7. Reservations of seats

To ensure that there is adequate representation of the weaker and the backward sections of the society in the development process, a policy of reservation is stipulated for equitable development of all sections. The Sikkim Panchayat Act 1993 provides for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, in both tiers of PRIs. Proportional representation for Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes and most backward caste are made in accordance with their population in the state.

8. Strengthening last mile delivery

Though the state has a two tier PRI at the village and the district level, Block Administrative Centers (BACs) were established to provide administrative, accounts and technical support to cluster of Gram Panchayats. Boasting of state of art infrastructure, a BAC with its battery of officers, provides support to a population of about 15,000. Thirty one BACs have been created so far to cater to the needs of the 176 Gram Panchayats in the State.

9. Enhancement of honorarium of Panchayat

The honorariums of Zilla Panchayats have been revised from time to time as per the schedule furnished below:
 

Sl.no.	Year	Honorarium per month
1.	1998	800/-
2.	2008	2400/-
3.	2014	4800/-

Likewise the honorarium of Elected Representative of the Gram Panchayat has been revised as under:
 

Sl.no.	Year	Elected Representative	Honorarium per month
1.	1995	Panchayat President	400/-
		Panchayat menbers	300/-
2.	2008	Panchayat President	2400/-
		Vice President	2000/-
		Panchayat Secretary	2000/-
		Panchayat Member	1600//-
3.	2014	Panchayat President	4800/-
		Vice President	4000/-
		Panchayat Secretary	4000/-
		Panchayat Member	3200/-

10. Reservation for Women in Gram and Ward Sabha

In 2005, the Sikkim Panchayat Act was amended to insert a provision for one third reservations for women in the quorum of Gram and Ward Sabha to ensure active participation of women in all decision making. Later reservation for elected women representative was made mandatory. The final amend raised the reservation to 50% for women in all posts.