A two-day workshop on giving panchayats tax and non-tax powers and changing functioning of State Finance NSE 0.45 % Commissions (SFCs) got underway here today with Union Minister Nihal Chand making a strong pitch for empowering local bodies economically to strengthen India. "Majority of Indian population stays in rural areas. Hence, Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had announced to transfer funds directly to gram panchayats. "For the first time, over two-lakh crore rupees have been announced for gram panchayats. Huge funds will go to villages and a sarpanch can use the same for developments of the villages," Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Nihal Chand said during the inaugural session of the workshop themed 'Decentralisation and Role of State Finance Commissions'.