R ARIVANANTHAM
GANDHINAGAR, DEC 13
Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi believed that true freedom and social progress could only be achieved if power and decision-making authority were decentralized and brought down to the grassroots level, specifically to the villages. Gandhi wanted to decentralize political power to the village level. He believed that decision-making should be in the hands of the villagers themselves, allowing them to govern their own affairs and solve their own problems. This decentralization was seen as a way to promote direct democracy and reduce the role of the central government.
Dr Gaurav Dahiya (IAS), Additional Development Commissioner, Government of Gujarat, with his team members at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday.-NE PHOTO
Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj was not just a theoretical concept but a practical approach to social and economic development. He believed that the revitalization of India’s villages was crucial for the overall progress of the nation. His ideas on Gram Swaraj continue to influence discussions on rural development, decentralization of power, and sustainable living in India and beyond.
- A total prize amount of ₹46 crore was digitally transferred to the 45 award-winning panchayats
- A total of ₹20.25 crore was jointly awarded to 27 states, including Gujarat, under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award category
- 42% of the 45 award-winning panchayats were led by women
Gujarat treads on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi
Treading on the path shown by Gandhiji, the Model State of Gujarat, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, has showcased its excellence in the National Panchayat Awards 2024, hoisting the flag of good governance nationwide. Vavkulli-2 Gram Panchayat from Panchmahal district was honoured with the first rank in the “Panchayat with Good Governance” category under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award (DDUPSVP).
On December 11, 2024, at the event held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Dr Gaurav Dahiya (IAS), Additional Development Commissioner, Government of Gujarat, received the award from President Droupadi Murmu.
Notably, this achievement comes as recently Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has completed two years of his tenure. This national recognition has added another milestone to Gujarat’s good governance and development journey under his leadership.
Smart village Vavkulli-2: A National Model for Good Governance
While Gujarat is widely recognized for its urban development and modern facilities in cities, this recognition underscores the state government’s commitment to improving facilities and administrative systems even in rural areas at the panchayat level. The award to Vavkulli-2 Gram Panchayat from Panchmahal district acknowledges its exceptional governance efforts during 2022-23.
Sharing insights on this achievement, Dr. Gaurav Dahiya, Additional Development Commissioner, stated, “Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has been making commendable efforts in modernizing rural development and gram panchayats with advanced facilities. In recent years, the state government has been focusing on increasing compliance with e-governance in administrative processes within gram panchayats and prioritizing important aspects such as ease of living in rural areas. The state government is particularly focusing on citizen-centric services in gram panchayats, which has led to the Panchmahal district’s Vavkulli- 2 gram panchayat being recognized as the country’s best ‘Panchayat with Good Governance’. This honour for Gujarat is a moment of pride for all of us.”
₹46 crore digitally transferred to 45 winning panchayats
In the National Panchayat Awards 2024, a total of ₹46 crore was awarded to 45 panchayats and directly transferred to their accounts. Of this, ₹20.25 crore was allocated to 27 winners under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award (DDUPSVP). Gujarat’s share of the prize money was also digitally transferred to its account.
Gram panchayats recognized for excellence in 9 key areas
Panchayats were ranked and recognized for their performance in nine thematic areas; 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.
National Panchayat Awards Competition creates smart villages
The National Panchayat Awards competition is conducted through a multi-tiered structure, evaluating panchayats at block, district, state/union territory, and national levels. The initiative primarily aims to promote sustainable development at the grassroots level. These awards encourage best practices and foster a spirit of competition among panchayats, inspiring them to excel in delivering quality governance and services to rural communities.
For the National Panchayat Awards 2024, 1.94 lakh gram panchayats participated, 45 of which were declared winners and 42% of these were led by women.
