RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ AWARD

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The Ministry of Rural Development has instituted a National Panchayati Raj Award to commemorate the tenth year of passing of the 73^rd Amendment Act of the Constitution on the 24^th April, 2003. The Award would be given at the National level to 5 best performing District Panchayats, 10 best Intermediate Panchayats and 50 best performing Gram Panchayats. The Award amount would be Rs.30 lakhs at the District Level, Rs.20 lakhs at the Intermediate Panchayat Level and Rs.10 lakhs at the Gram Panchayat level. These Awards will be given every year. States will be required to send their nominations by 30^th April every year. Guidelines for the award are being issued by the Ministry shortly.

The broad criteria for selection of the best Panchayat at the District/Intermediate and Gram Panchayat level would include the following :

1. Performance and implementation of programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development, including Rural Water Harvesting & Management, Drinking Water and Sanitation especially Hariyali and Swajaldhara – for the Panchayat to be eligible for this Award it should have completed at least one water harvesting structure in its jurisdiction.
2. Performance and implementation of Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana (SGRY)
3. Revenue Mobilisation/ Tax collection over the previous year(s)
4. Population control, Health & Family Welfare and Education.
5. Any other innovative action by the Panchayat.

The Award aims at rewarding Panchayats which perform well as institutions of local governance; giving due recognition to the role of Panchayats in the implementation of Rural Development Programmes such Hariyali, Swajaldhara and Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). It will also disseminate the experience of better performing Panchayats and which can serve as a ‘benchmark’. It will ensure better maintenance and supervision of databases in respect of accepted social indicators.