Himachal Pradesh Government Mandates SAMARTH Portal for All Gram Panchayats
The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a significant notification requiring all gram panchayats in the state to implement the SAMARTH portal. This move aims to digitize rural financial governance completely. The mandatory use of the portal will take effect from April 1.
What the Notification States
According to the official notification from the Panchayati Raj Department, all 3,616 gram panchayats in Himachal Pradesh must now use the SAMARTH portal for managing their Own Source Revenue (OSR). The portal will handle all activities related to OSR exclusively.
Key activities include:
- Configuration of tax and non-tax revenue streams
- Registration of taxpayers
- Online generation of demand notices
- Management of panchayat-owned assets for revenue purposes
- Collection of payments from citizens
The notification clearly states that offline processing of these activities will be completely discontinued from the effective date. This shift to digital operations marks a significant change in how panchayats handle their finances.
Purpose and Development of SAMARTH Portal
The SAMARTH portal has been developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Its primary goal is to enable end-to-end digitization of tax and non-tax revenues at the gram panchayat level.
The portal serves multiple functions:
- Facilitates online generation of demand notices
- Enables digital collection of payments
- Maintains records of panchayat-owned assets
- Provides real-time monitoring of revenue performance
Government officials state that the portal aims to ensure greater transparency, standardization, and efficiency in rural financial administration. By moving all financial operations online, the government hopes to reduce errors and improve accountability.
Implementation and Approval
The notification has been issued with the approval of competent authorities and carries the signature of the Secretary (Panchayati Raj), Government of Himachal Pradesh. This formal approval underscores the government's commitment to this digital transformation.
With this mandate, Himachal Pradesh becomes one of the states actively implementing the central government's initiative to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions through technology. The move represents a crucial step toward modernizing rural governance across the state.
