Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Panchayati Raj institutions can play an important role in making India a developed country. Addressing a meeting of Kshetriya Panchayati Raj Parishad in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu through video conference, Mr Modi said Panchayats are pillars of democracy and his government is committed to further strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions which  hold tremendous potential to drive significant transformations in various sector. He also urged BJP's 'Zila Panchayat' members to work to make various development initiatives a mass movement, asserting that ''lamp of development has to be lit up in every village, tehsil and district to make India a developed country'' by 2047. 

Mr Modi said  'sabka saath, sabka vikas' is not merely a slogan for the BJP and they should live it every moment.He said  the party does not do it for winning polls but to work towards making India a developed country by 2047.  He urged Zila Panchayat members to hold meetings to take up three projects as a priority every year while noting that fund for local bodies has risen manifold and resources are not a constraint. He said earlier, the grant used to be of   70,000 crore rupees but it is now over   lakh crore rupees . Mr Modi said   that his government  have built over 30,000 Zila Panchayat buildings , stressing on using part of MNREGA budget for asset creation as well.The Prime Minister said he decided to build toilets and open bank accounts for the poor.  The conclave is being held at Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu where BJP president J P Nadda was also present during the prime minister's address.