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.I. Periyasamy.,Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development.

Thiru Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department ,Secretariat, Chennai - 60009. from 01.07.2024 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.

• Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
• Additional Chief Secretary/Director General, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj(Training).
• Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited.
• Chief Executive Officer, Tamilnadu Rural Transformation Project.
• Project Director of Tamil Nadu Coastal Sustainable Livelihood Society.

Thiru. P. Ponniah, I.A.S.,is the  Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department from 08.07.2023 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.

Thiru. Har Sahay Meena I.A.S., is the  Additional Chief Secretary/Director General, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (Training) since 30.01.2023 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 (TNCDW) 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:30.07.2006 in order to bring about greater synergy and better coordination in implementing various schemes for Self Help Group. Thiru Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department is the Chairman of the Corporation since 01.07.2024.Tmt. S.Divyadharshini I.A.S., is the Managing 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 Tmt. S.Divyadharshini 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 36 Districts.

Tamil Nadu Coastal Sustainable Livelihoods Society is headed by Thiru. P. Ponniah, I.A.S Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj is holding full additional charge as Member Secretary / Project Director