Ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi addreses the gathering during the conference on national Convention of Presidents of Zila Parishads and Intermediate Panchayats in New Delhi , India on 24 April 2008 . The conference is being held to celebrate the 15 th anniversary of coming into force of the Constitution ( 73 rd Amendment ) Act . The conference is being attended by around 8 , 000 delegates from 26 States and 5 Union Territories in which they would be welcomed for suggestions on the present Panchayati Raj system to make it more effective . EPA / STR < 저작권자 ⓒ 2007 연 합 뉴 스 . 무단 전재 - 재 배포 금지 . >