National Panchayat Awards 2024: Celebrating Rural Governance and Sustainable Development

The National Panchayat Awards 2024 marked a significant moment in India’s rural development landscape, honoring 45 exceptional Panchayats for their remarkable contributions to sustainable and inclusive growth. Held on December 11, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the prestigious event was graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.

Historical Context and Significance

Constitutional Foundations

The awards commemorate the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which granted constitutional status to Panchayats as institutions of local self-governance. Traditionally celebrated on April 24th, the 2024 ceremony was rescheduled due to the General Elections to the Lok Sabha.

Scale and Participation

In a testament to grassroots democratic participation, 1.94 lakh Gram Panchayats competed in this year’s awards. Notably, 42% of the 42 award-winning Panchayats were led by women, highlighting the growing role of female leadership in rural governance.

Award Categories: Recognizing Comprehensive Rural Development

1. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP)

This category recognized excellence across nine Localization of Sustainable Development Goal (LSDG) thematic areas. 27 Gram Panchayats from diverse states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, and others were honored for their exceptional performance in:

• Poverty alleviation
• Health
• Education
• Water conservation
• Sanitation
• Infrastructure development
• Social justice
• Good governance

2. Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar

Nine Panchayats were conferred with this prestigious award for their holistic approach to implementing sustainable development goals across all themes.

3. Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar

Recognizing innovation in renewable energy, Panchayats from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tripura were awarded for their remarkable contributions to sustainable energy practices.

4. Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar

Highlighting environmental sustainability, Gram Panchayats from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh were honoured for their efforts in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

5. Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar

Institutions from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Odisha were recognized for providing exceptional support to Panchayats in implementing Localization of Sustainable Development Goals.

Selection Process: Ensuring Transparency and Excellence

The awards featured a rigorous multi-level evaluation process involving committees from Block to National levels. Panchayats were assessed through detailed questionnaires covering nine LSDG themes, ensuring a comprehensive and fair assessment of their performance.

Financial Recognition and Support

A total of 46 crore rupees in prize money was distributed to 45 awardees, with funds directly transferred to their accounts. This financial recognition aims to motivate and support rural governance initiatives.

Key Publications and Documentation

A significant highlight was the unveiling of a booklet titled ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’, documenting the innovative practices of award-winning Panchayats and serving as a knowledge repository for other rural governance institutions.

Broader Objectives and Impact

The National Panchayat Awards aim to:

• Promote best practices in rural development
• Foster healthy competition among Panchayati Raj Institutions
• Inspire transformative approaches to local governance
• Align local development with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Summary of National Panchayat Awards 2024

Heading	Details
Why in News	The National Panchayat Awards 2024 honored 45 exceptional Panchayats for their contributions to sustainable and inclusive growth. The event was held on December 11, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Key Guests	Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.
Historical Context	Awards commemorate the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992), granting Panchayats constitutional status. Rescheduled from April 24 due to General Elections.
Scale and Participation	1.94 lakh Gram Panchayats competed; 42% of award-winning Panchayats were led by women, emphasizing female leadership in governance.
Award Categories	1. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): Recognized 27 Panchayats for excellence in 9 LSDG themes (poverty, health, education, etc.). 2. Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: Honored 9 Panchayats for holistic implementation of LSDGs. 3. Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Innovation in renewable energy (Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura). 4. Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Net-zero carbon efforts (Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh). 5. Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Support institutions from Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha.
Selection Process	Multi-level evaluation (Block to National level); assessed through detailed questionnaires covering 9 LSDG themes.
Financial Support	46 crore rupees prize money distributed to 45 Panchayats; funds directly transferred to accounts.
Key Publications	Booklet titled ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’, highlighting innovative practices of awardees.
Objectives	Promote rural development best practices, foster competition among Panchayati Raj Institutions, and align local governance with UN SDGs.