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President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Panchayat Awards in New Delhi and also inaugurated the National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats. The President highlighted the significance of rural development for the country's overall progress, as, despite rapid urbanization, a majority of the population still lives in villages. She emphasized that Panchayats should not only be a means of implementing government programs, but also a platform to encourage new leaders, planners, policy-makers, and innovators. Adopting best practices from one Panchayat to another can accelerate the development and prosperity of villages.
The President emphasized the significance of villages as the basic unit of development for the entire nation. She stated that, as much as possible, all community work should be carried out with a mutual agreement.
Despite rapid urbanization in recent decades, the President noted that most of the population still resides in villages, and even those in cities are connected to villages in some way. She further emphasized that villagers should have the ability to decide on the development model and implementation for their villages. She added that Panchayats are meant to implement government programs and initiatives and to nurture new leaders, planners, policy-makers, and innovators.
The President also highlighted the important role of women in the holistic development of society, noting that 46 percent of the over 31.5 lakh elected representatives in local rural bodies are women. Their participation is crucial for ensuring comprehensive development, she emphasized.
Importance of Women's Participation & Reservations in Panchayats
The President also stressed the crucial role of women's participation in the holistic development of society. She noted that 46 percent of over 31.5 lakh elected representatives of local rural bodies are women and urged them to actively participate in Gram Panchayat work. She also appealed to their families to support them in their efforts.
Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh, called for the remaining states to provide reservations for women beyond the 33% Constitutional provision in the Panchayats. He emphasized the need for a development model that aligns with the nine themes laid out under the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Panchayats as Focal Point of Development
Giriraj Singh highlighted that the Modi Government firmly believes that Panchayats should be the focal point of development. He mentioned that previously, the Government allocated only Rs.54 per person for development under the Finance Commission, but now, it has been increased to Rs.700. The Government is providing numerous schemes for the welfare of the country's citizens, including the distribution of foodgrains under the Garib Kalyan package, which would not have been possible without the involvement of the Panchayats, according to the Minister. He called for the States to give the Panchayati Raj Institutions legal rights in the 75th year of Independence and 30 years after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment related to Panchayati Raj.
Saturation of Schemes and Best Practices for Sustainable Villages
Giriraj Singh called for the saturation of schemes in the Panchayats by the line Ministries of the Centre and the States. He highlighted that 31 lakh elected representatives have been trained towards sustainable villages under the Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan. He noted that the parameters for determining the vibrant Panchayats have changed to include Carbon Neutrality, Water Sufficiency, Literacy, and Employment Generation. Previously, only about 10-20% of Panchayats participated, but now more than 90% have vied for the Awards. Giriraj Singh also appreciated the commendable efforts made by the youngest Panchayats in Jammu & Kashmir UT towards achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030.
Transformational Schemes for Rural India
Giriraj Singh highlighted the potential of the Bhu-Aadhaar and SVAMITVA Schemes to transform rural India and benefit the rural populace. He stated that under the SVAMITVA Scheme, drone surveys had been completed in more than 2.35 lakh villages, while 95% of the 6.62 lakh villages have been provided with Bhu-Aadhaar under the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) project.
Incentivization of Panchayats
Faggan Singh Kulaste, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, emphasized the need to incentivize Panchayats to promote participatory governance and sustainable development in rural areas. He highlighted the role of financial incentives in motivating Panchayats to perform better and deliver tangible results on the ground. He also mentioned the importance of leveraging technology and innovation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Panchayat governance.
Various best practices and success stories from different Panchayats across the country were shared during the conference. These included initiatives in areas such as health and sanitation, education, agriculture, water conservation, and women empowerment. The importance of community participation, decentralized planning, and effective utilization of resources were emphasized as key factors for the success of these initiatives.
Some top-performing states
Dadra and Nagar Haveli secured third in the district panchayat category of the 'Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar', popularly known as the National Panchayat Awards.
The remote village of Ngopa in the Saitual district of Mizoram made history by winning the prestigious National Panchayat Award, becoming the first village in the state to receive this honor. Ngopa ranked second in the Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP) category, after Karnataka's Mullusoge. Ngopa was recognized for its outstanding performance across nine different themes, including poverty reduction, improved livelihoods, cleanliness, green initiatives, and good governance. The village council, comprising seven members, worked tirelessly to implement various initiatives and schemes that helped improve the living standards of the local people.
In a moment of pride for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Sira-A panchayat in Udhampur district secured the second position in the child-friendly category under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar.
Telangana also greatly boosted its rural initiatives, with 13 awards at the National Panchayat Awards 2023 under various categories. The parameters for determining vibrant Panchayats now include Carbon Neutrality, Water Sufficiency, Literacy, and Employment Generation, leading to increased participation from over 90% of Panchayats in vying for the Awards.