National Panchayat Awards 2024

A Celebration of Excellence in Rural Governance and Sustainable Development

The National Panchayat Awards 2024 honored 45 exceptional Panchayats for their contributions to sustainable and inclusive development in rural India. Held on 11^th December 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the event was presided over by Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, with Hon’ble Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also present. The awards recognized Panchayats’ efforts in areas such as poverty alleviation, health, water conservation, sanitation, and climate sustainability, celebrating their role in driving grassroots development.

National Panchayat Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Rural Development

During the prestigious ceremony, 45 Panchayats from diverse regions were honored in recognition of their exemplary work in rural development. A booklet titled ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’ was unveiled, documenting the innovative and impactful practices implemented by the award-winning Panchayats. Additionally, the digital transfer of award money to the winning Panchayats was successfully executed during the event. The ceremony also featured a short film highlighting the exceptional efforts of some award-winning Panchayats, with a special focus on the pivotal role of training institutes in enhancing the
capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The primary objective of these awards was to promote and acknowledge the contributions of Panchayats in the socio-economic development of rural India, and to motivate other Panchayats to adopt best practices for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

In 2022, the awards were revamped to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a focused approach called Localization of SDGs (LSDGs). This overhaul introduced a multi-level pyramid structure for the awards, incorporating evaluations at the Block, District, State/UT, and National levels. Under this updated framework, Panchayats were ranked and recognized based on their performance across 9 thematic areas of sustainable development: Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods, Healthy Panchayat, Child-Friendly Panchayat, Water-Sufficient Panchayat, Clean and Green Panchayat, Self-Sufficient Infrastructure, Socially Just and Secured Panchayat, Panchayat with Good Governance, and Women-Friendly Panchayat.

This modernization of the awards established a comprehensive framework for rural development, encouraging Panchayats to play a vital role in local governance while contributing to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.
The National Panchayat Awards are usually celebrated on April 24th every year, in conjunction with National Panchayati Raj Day (due to the General Elections to the Lok Sabha held earlier in 2024, the award ceremony was rescheduled to 11th December this year.). This day commemorates the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into effect in 1993 and granted Panchayats constitutional status as institutions of local self-governance. It is a day to recognize the importance of Panchayats in India’s democratic structure and the crucial role they play in rural development.

1.94 lakh Gram Panchayats participated in the competition this year, with 42% of the 42 award-winning Panchayats led by women. The rigorous selection process assessed Panchayats’ performance across various areas aligned with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), involving committees from Block to National level. This initiative underscores the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and fostering competition among Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). The recognition highlights the transformative role of Panchayats in building resilient rural communities and aims to inspire others to adopt these best practices.

Categories of the National Panchayat Awards

The National Panchayat Awards 2024 are awarded under several categories, with the primary focus on recognizing grassroots governance, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The categories are as follows:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): This award recognizes the top 3 Gram Panchayats (GPs) under each of the 9 Localization of Sustainable Development Goal’s thematic areas.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: Awarded to the top 3 GPs, Block Panchayats (BPs), and District Panchayats (DPs) with the highest average score across all 9 themes.
• Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Awarded to the top 3 GPs for their significant contributions to adopting and utilizing renewable energy sources.
• Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Given to the top 3 GPs for their efforts in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
• Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Awarded to the top 3 institutions that have provided exemplary institutional support to Panchayats in achieving the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).

The awards also emphasize the role of Panchayats in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on the Localization of SDGs (LSDGs) within the framework of local governance.

• Process of Selection

The selection process for the National Panchayat Awards 2024 was thorough and involved multiple levels of assessment. The Panchayats were evaluated based on their performance across various 9 LSDG themes. Each Panchayat was required to fill out detailed questionnaires related to these themes. The rigorous evaluation process involved multiple committees, from the Block to the National Level, ensuring a fair and transparent process. The competition not only assessed the achievements of the Panchayats in these areas but also fostered a spirit of competition and collaboration among them.

Key Achievements of Awardees of 2024

The awards recognize notable achievements in key areas of rural development, with Tripura and Odisha receiving the highest recognition. A total of 46 crore rupees in prize money was distributed to 45 awardees, with the amount directly transferred to their accounts.

Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Gram Panchayats from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh awarded for their efforts towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions. This category emphasizes the importance of climate sustainability in rural governance.

Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Panchayats from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tripura received award for their remarkable contributions to renewable energy adoption, highlighting the importance of sustainable energy practices at the grassroots level.

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): This year, 27 Gram Panchayats were recognized for their exceptional performance across the nine LSDG themes. These awards acknowledge the Panchayats’ achievements in areas such as poverty alleviation, health, education, water, sanitation, infrastructure, social justice, and good governance. The awardees represent a diverse range of states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.

Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Institutions from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Odisha honored for their exceptional support to Panchayats in implementing the Localization of SDGs.

Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: A total of 9 Panchayats conferred with this prestigious award for their overall excellence in implementing all themes of the LSDGs.

Key Features and Structure of the Awards

The National Panchayat Awards 2024 incorporate several innovative features, including:

• Multi-level Structure: The competition is conducted in a multi-level structure, with evaluation at the Block, District, State/UT, and National Levels.
• Transparent and Inclusive Evaluation: The awards recognize Panchayats’ performance in 9 thematic areas aligned with the Localization of SDGs, driving sustainable development at the grassroots level.
• Encouraging Best Practices: The awards aim to promote best practices, foster a spirit of competition, and motivate Panchayats to excel in delivering quality governance and services to rural communities.

Conclusion

The National Panchayat Awards 2024 represent the Government of India’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions in their role as key drivers of rural development. By celebrating the achievements of these institutions, the awards aim to inspire grassroots governance, inclusive growth, and sustainable development across rural India. Through these awards, Panchayats are encouraged to contribute further towards the Localization of SDGs and the realization of a sustainable and inclusive rural India.