Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday spoke on strengthening panchayati raj institutions while inaugurating the Mithila Mahotsav on the premises of the Watson High School.

He also inaugurated a newly constructed building within the Circuit House and addressed a gathering of panchayat and municipal representatives at the Town Club field.

Addressing panchayat representatives, Nitish said: "There would be an administration at the panchayat level in the days to come, as the Union and the state governments function at the central and the state levels. Work has started but it would take a long time to take shape. There would be an administrative building from which it would discharge its function as the state and Union governments do their work from their secretariats. We need to develop machinery at the panchayat level to help it discharge function from its own building."

Nitish said: "We would work to strengthen panchayati raj institutions that got its constitutional status through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts. The state government would find it easy working in coordination with the panchayati raj institutions in development work if the panchayati raj institutions become strong. We are constructing Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans in each panchayat from where both gram panchayat and gram kutcheries would discharge their administrative function sitting in the same building."

Boosting the morale of panchayat representatives, Nitish said he would strive hard to help them get their rights and honour. "The panchayat is an elected body. It cannot be ordered but can be directed in case of development work when it discharges its functions. Binod Kumar Singh, who has organised this summit, had urged me twice earlier to attend this meet," said the chief minister.

Singh is a member of the legislative council. Several others such as panchayati raj minister Binod Kumar Yadav, water resources minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and others accompanied Nitish.

Nitish also laid foundation stones of several schemes and inaugurated other projects in the district a total estimated cost of Rs 53.63 crore. The two-day fair has been organised here only.

The chief minister also visited Bikaram Sher village under Babubarhi block of the district, about 210km northeast of Patna, where he met relatives of former MLA Jagdish Narayan Chaudhary, who passed away recently.

While inaugurating the mahotsav, Nitish said: "A Mithila painting institution would be opened and all the formalities have already been completed. Mithila painting is famous all over the world and it would be promoted. Maithili is a very simple and easy language and anyone can learn it. The mahotsav is exclusively meant for preserving the culture of Mithila."