What is the 'Chief Minister Samruddhi Panchayat Raj Abhiyan'?

Key Takeaways
- Annual budget of Rs 290.33 crore allocated for awards.
- Campaign duration from September 17 to December 31, 2025.
- 1,902 awards to be given across various levels.
- 16-member committee to oversee implementation.
- A focus on empowering local governance and community engagement.
Mumbai, July 29 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has given the green light for the 'Mukhyamantri Samruddhi Panchayat Raj Abhiyan' award initiative. This campaign aims to recognize the performance of Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishads in the state, set to commence from the financial year 2025-26. The awards will be distributed at four distinct levels: taluka, district, revenue department, and state.
To support this initiative, an annual budget of Rs 290.33 crore has been allocated for the awards. This decision by the cabinet comes as the state prepares for upcoming local and civic elections, anticipated to follow the monsoon season.
In total, 1,902 awards will be presented during this campaign, which will run from September 17 to December 31, 2025. At the state level, a grand prize of Rs 5 crore will be awarded for first place, Rs 3 crore for second, and Rs 2 crore for third place among Gram Panchayats.
At the divisional level, 18 Gram Panchayats will also be recognized, with prizes of Rs 1 crore, Rs 80 lakh, and Rs 60 lakh for the top three positions respectively.
District-level awards will see 102 Gram Panchayats from 34 districts awarded Rs 50 lakh for first place, Rs 30 lakh for second, and Rs 20 lakh for third.
At the taluka level, 1,053 Gram Panchayats will be recognized with Rs 15 lakh for first, Rs 12 lakh for second, and Rs 8 lakh for third, along with two special awards of Rs 5 lakh each. For the Panchayat Samiti, the state level prizes will be Rs 2 crore, Rs 1.5 crore, and Rs 1.25 crore for the top three positions. The divisional level will award Rs 1 crore, Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 60 lakh for the top three positions.
Regarding the Zilla Parishad, prizes will be Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore, and Rs 2 crore for the top three positions at the state level.
A 16-member committee will be established at the state level, chaired by the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, to oversee the implementation and monitoring of this initiative, with preparations set to begin on August 1.
Evaluation committees will be formed across taluka, district, and state levels to determine the winners. Additionally, a dedicated monitoring and evaluation committee will be in place to ensure the effective execution of the campaign. The government has outlined the procedure and timeline for evaluating each phase of this initiative.
The government release identifies seven core components of this campaign, including well-governed panchayats, empowered panchayats, water-rich and eco-friendly villages, integration of MGNREGA and other schemes, empowerment of village institutions, livelihood development, social justice, and community engagement through Shramdaan. Award selection will be based on the scoring of these components.