Odisha will be awarded in seven categories at the National Panchayat Awards 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
The prizes will be given out during a special ceremony on December 11 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
According to an official press release, certain Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads in Odisha that have been acknowledged as among the best in the country will be honored.
The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj recognizes the top-performing Panchayati Raj institutions in India in a variety of categories. This year, Odisha’s Panchayati Raj Institutions will be acknowledged for their achievements in seven categories.
Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, Ganjam district’s Keluapalli and Sahapur will receive the Sustha Panchayat Puraskar and Swabalambi Bhitibhumi Panchayat Puraskar, respectively. Additionally, Ganjam’s Chhatrapur Panchayat Samiti will be awarded the Shrestha Block Panchayat Puraskar, and the Koraput Zilla Parishad will be honoured as the Shrestha Zila Panchayat under the Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar category.
In Sundargarh district, Kasir Gram Panchayat will be awarded the Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar, while Kenjrikela Gram Panchayat will be honoured with the Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar.
Moreover, Odisha’s Rajya Gramya Unnayan & Panchayatiraj Pratisthan has been selected for the Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar for its outstanding work in capacity building and training of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the state.
Rabi Narayan Naik, Minister of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Rural Development, congratulated all of the award-winning Panchayati Raj Institutions, as well as the officials and staff of the Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water, and Rural Development Departments. He stressed that these recognitions would encourage other Panchayati Raj Institutions to strive for greatness.
The Minister also praised Girish S.N., Secretary of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, and Surendra Kumar Meena, Director of Rajya Gramya Unnayan & Panchayatiraj Pratisthan, as well as their staff, for their efforts to this outstanding achievement.