Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greets the delegates ( L ) as ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi ( C ) looks on during a 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 . >