Koraput and Ganjam districts of Odisha recently received national recognition at the National Panchayat Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. President Draupadi Murmu presented the awards, honoring outstanding panchayats for their exceptional development and governance efforts.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଦ୍ରୌପଦୀ ମୁର୍ମୁ ଆଜି ଦେଶର ପଞ୍ଚାୟତିରାଜ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ନିମନ୍ତେ ଜାତୀୟ ପଞ୍ଚାୟତ ପୁରସ୍କାର ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏଥିରେ ୭ଟି ବିଭାଗରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପୁରସ୍କୃତ ହୋଇଛି। କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରଙ୍କ ପଞ୍ଚାୟତିରାଜ ମନ୍ତ୍ରାଳୟ ଦ୍ବାରା ପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ ଏହି ପୁରସ୍କାର ବାବଦକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାକୁ ୮କୋଟି ୫୦ ଲକ୍ଷ… pic.twitter.com/RCe6bELfpr
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) December 11, 2024
Koraput Recognized as the Best District Panchayat
Koraput district has been honored as the best district panchayat in the nation, earning the top spot in the “Best Panchayat for Continuous Development” category. This recognition highlights the district’s unwavering commitment to development and its effective governance. Sasmita Meleka, the Chairperson of Koraput Zilla Parishad, along with V. Kirti Bhushan, the District Collector, received the award from the President. The award comes with a significant cash prize of ₹3 crore, which will be utilized for further development projects in the district.
Koraput District received the prestigious National Panchayat Award under the ‘Best District Panchayat’ category from Hon’ble President of India @rashtrapatibhvn
Best wishes and many congratulations to all the stakeholders of Team Koraput for this remarkable achievement. pic.twitter.com/u7JAufVqpS
— Keerthi Vasan IAS (@keerthi_ias) December 11, 2024
The recognition of Koraput as the second-best district panchayat for continuous development has been a moment of immense pride for the people of the district. Meleka expressed her gratitude, stating that the award is a reflection of the collective efforts of the district’s panchayat representatives, officials, and the people of Koraput. She also mentioned that this success is not just a victory for Koraput but a proud moment for the entire state of Odisha.
Chhatrapur Block Recognized as Best
Ganjam district also garnered national attention with three significant awards at the same ceremony. The Chhatrapur block of Ganjam was recognized as the best block panchayat in India, marking a major achievement for the district. District Collector Divyajyoti Parida and Kiran Kumari Dash, the Chairperson of Chhatrapur block, received the prestigious award on behalf of the district. This award comes with a cash prize of ₹2 crore, which will be used to further improve the infrastructure and services in the block.
Additionally, Ganjam district saw two of its panchayats being recognized for their excellence. The Keluapalli Panchayat in the Rangeilunda block was awarded second place in the “Best Developed Panchayat” category and received ₹75 lakh as a reward for its outstanding development initiatives. The Sahapur Panchayat of the Hinjilica block was also recognized as the second-best panchayat in the country for “Self-Reliant Infrastructure Development,” receiving another ₹75 lakh in prize money.
These awards reflect the dedication of the local leadership, panchayat representatives, and the community in Ganjam. They are a testament to the district’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and self-reliance in rural areas.
A Bright Future Ahead
The awards celebrate the hard work of local leaders and community members in both districts. Koraput and Ganjam’s success will inspire further growth and serve as models for other regions to follow.