GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Dec. President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday presented the National Panchayat Awards 2024 to 45 outstanding Panchayats, honoring their achievements in sustainable and inclusive development. The awards ceremony, held in New Delhi, showcased exemplary contributions across categories such as poverty alleviation, health, water conservation, sanitation, governance, and women empowerment.
In her address, the President emphasized the critical role of Panchayats in India’s development, noting that 64% of the population resides in villages. “The foundation of a developed India lies in self-reliant and capable local bodies,” she stated, urging Panchayats to develop independent revenue sources to build self-confidence and strengthen grassroots democracy.
Encouraging Self-Reliance and Women Leadership
President Murmu congratulated the awardees, expressing hope that their accomplishments would inspire other Gram Panchayats. Highlighting the increasing political empowerment of women through Panchayati Raj institutions, she urged female representatives to assert themselves as independent leaders. She called for the eradication of proxy representation by family members of elected women officials, a practice that persists in some areas.
Transparent Elections and Local Dispute Resolution
The President underlined the importance of timely and peaceful Panchayat elections, free from violence, as a cornerstone of accountability and trust in governance. She encouraged Panchayats to resolve local disputes within the community, reducing the burden on courts and fostering harmony.
Categories Recognized
The awards spanned several categories, including:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar
- Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar
- Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
- Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
- Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar
These awards celebrate efforts in infrastructure development, social justice, governance, and environmental sustainability, among others.
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