The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department is responsible for the implementation of various Centrally-sponsored, State-funded and Externally-aided schemes for poverty alleviation, employment generation, sanitation, capacity building, women’s social and economic empowerment, apart from provision of basic amenities and services. The Department is also entrusted with the responsibility of enabling the various Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) to function as effective units of Local Self-Government. There are 12,525 Village Panchayats, 388 Panchayat Unions (co-terminus with Blocks) and 36 District Panchayats under the purview of the Department and Mayiladuthurai has been created newly.
Thiru.KR. Periakaruppan B.Com.,Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development.
Dr.K.Gopal, I.A.S, Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department from 26.05.2021 Fore Noon.The Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (including the Training wing), the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited come under this Department. These units are all headed by IAS officers. This Department also provides administrative support to the State Election Commission.
Thiru. Praveen P. Nair, I.A.S., is the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department from 17.06.2021 Fore Noon. The Director of Rural development and Panchayat Raj coordinates all establishment matters pertaining to the Department. As the Head of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj at the State level, he oversees all matters pertaining to Panchayat Raj Institutions in the State as well as the implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), etc., and State-funded Schemes like Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme (MLACDS), Self Sufficiency Scheme, Solar Powered Green House Scheme etc.
The State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Maraimalai Nagar is the State-level training institution and functions under the control of a Director in the rank of Additional Director of Rural Development. The Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department is the President and the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj is the Vice-President of the SIRD.
Tmt. Jayashree Raghunandan I.A.S., is the Additional Chief Secretary/Director General, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (Training) since 31.05.2021 and co-ordinates various training programmes imparted to the elected representatives of the rural Local Bodies and officials of the Department through the SIRD & five Regional Institutes of Rural Development (RIRDs) of the State.
Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited, established in the year 1983, was under the administrative control of Social Welfare Department from inception till mid-2006. In July 2006, the Corporation was brought under the administrative control of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department vide G.O.Ms.No. 81 dt: 20.7.2006 in order to bring about greater synergy and better coordination in implementing various schemes for Self Help Groups. Dr.K.Gopal, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department is the Chairman of the Corporation since 26.05.2021. Tmt.Jothi Nirmalasamy, I.A.S., is the Managing Director . The Post Tsunami Sustainable Livelihood Programme (PTSLP) funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is also overseen by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women and headed by the Executive Director.
Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project(TNRTP) - The world bank assisted Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project is being implemented for a period of 6 year from 2017-18 which is headed by Dr.I.U.Chandrakala, I.A.S., as its Chief Executive Officer. TNRTP aims at establishing sustainable rural enterprises and encouraging rural entreprenurship in 3994 village panchayat of 120 blocks in 30 Districts.
Tamil Nadu Coastal Sustainable Livelihood Society is headed by Project Director and Tmt.Jothi Nirmalasamy, I.A.S., the Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development for Women is holding Additional Charge as Project Director.