In a significant administrative overhaul, the number of grama panchayats in Tamil Nadu's picturesque Nilgiris district has seen a massive increase. The total count has jumped to 96 from the earlier 35, following a government-led restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing governance efficiency.
The Genesis of the Restructuring Plan
This large-scale reorganization finds its roots in a proposal put forward by Innocent Divya, who served as the district collector of Nilgiris during the 2019-20 period. The proposal highlighted the unique challenges faced by residents due to the region's difficult geography. The hilly terrain, lack of proper road facilities, and the presence of numerous scattered small hamlets made it arduous for people to access panchayat offices. The creation of new, smaller panchayat units was envisioned to bring civic administration closer to the people.
Official Notification and Block-wise Breakdown
The proposal was examined and advanced after several deliberations by a high-level committee led by the additional chief secretary of rural development and panchayats. The final reorganization was enacted through Government Order MS 330 dated November 27, 2025. It has been formally notified in the district gazette as mandated under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994.
The restructuring was implemented by bifurcating or trifurcating 27 of the original panchayats. The changes across the district's blocks are as follows:
- Ooty Block: Thirteen panchayats have been divided to create a new total of 38.
- Coonoor Block: Four panchayats have been split into 11. Notably, two panchayats in this block were left unchanged.
- Kotagiri Block: Seven panchayats have been reorganized into 19. Four panchayats here remained unaffected.
- Gudalur Block: Three panchayats have been divided to form 20 new units. Two panchayats in Gudalur block were not altered.
Implications for Local Governance
The primary goal of this exercise is to improve administrative efficiency and public service delivery. By creating more panchayats with smaller jurisdictions, the government aims to ensure that residents, especially those in remote and inaccessible hamlets, have easier access to their local government offices. This move is expected to streamline grievance redressal, implementation of welfare schemes, and overall civic management in the challenging terrain of the Nilgiris.
The successful execution of this plan marks a pivotal step in decentralizing governance and making it more responsive to the needs of the hill district's population.
