Bhubaneswar, July 28 (NationPress) In a bid to emulate the National Panchayat Awards established by the Union government, the Odisha government has introduced its own State Panchayat Puraskar initiative to foster excellence within Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Naik shared with the media that this initiative is designed to fortify grassroots governance, enhance livelihood opportunities, and promote inclusive development throughout the state.

Minister Naik stated: “Much like the national awards inspire panchayats, our State Panchayat Awards will honor and reward exemplary Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads for their significant contributions to governance, service delivery, and rural development.”

The minister also announced that the government has allocated Rs 4 crore for the execution of this scheme. The awards, scheduled to commence from 2024-25, will spotlight the top-performing panchayats based on various indicators and categories.

Performance under Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) across nine thematic areas will determine the best three Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis to be honored at the state level.

Moreover, the leading three Gram Panchayats in each of the nine LSDG themes will receive distinct accolades.

Every district will pinpoint the top three Gram Panchayats exhibiting the best performance under LSDGs, who will then be awarded monetary incentives. Additionally, the top three Gram Panchayats at the block level will earn Token Certificates of Appreciation.

Panchayats excelling in key areas such as MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, Good Governance, Skill Development, Income Generation, Online Auditing, and Women's Participation will be selected for the awards.

The amount awarded will range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, depending on the performance category and level.

This award money will be utilized for diverse development activities, including thematic development aligned with the awarded LSDG category, community infrastructure such as roads and drinking water, health camps focusing on women and children, and enhancing digital literacy and libraries to foster modern education and resources.

Minister Naik emphasized that the selection process will be based on data, ensuring it is impartial and transparent for fair recognition of exemplary performance.

“The aim is not only to reward exceptional work but also to create models that can be replicated across the state,” he expressed.

He further stated: “This initiative intends to stimulate innovation at the grassroots level, empower local governance, and encourage community-sensitive administration.

“The nation will progress as the Panchayati Raj System becomes stronger. Our guiding principle is ‘Viksit Village and Viksit Odisha’,” Naik concluded.