President Murmu Confers National Panchayat Awards 2024

President Droupadi Murmu has said that the foundation of a developed India could be laid only on the basis of self-reliant and capable local bodies. Addressing the National Panchayat Awards Ceremony in New Delhi last evening, she said panchayats should try to become self-reliant by developing their own sources of revenue. President Murmu said this self-reliance will provide self-confidence to the Gram Sabhas and strength to the country.

She said that about 64 percent of the population of the country lives in villages, and the development and empowerment of villages and villagers is important to make India a developed nation. The President expressed happiness that in the past decade the government has made serious efforts for the empowerment of panchayats, which aims to achieve concrete results. 

She said, Panchayati Raj institutions are empowering women politically, and it is a matter of happiness that women representatives are playing an important role in bringing about positive changes at the grassroots level. President Murmu urged them to discharge their duties as elected representatives in the panchayats fearlessly and with all their efficiency.

She highlighted that the tendency of family members of women Panchayat representatives performing their duties still exists in a few places. She told women representatives to eradicate such practices and establish themselves as independent leaders. The President said that elections make the public representatives responsible towards the



people. She said it is very important that Panchayat elections take place timely and fairly. She pointed towards the instances of electoral violence during and even after the elections. She said that the election process should always be conducted in a cordial atmosphere. 

The President said that across the country most of the disputes in villages are such that they can be resolved at the local level. Going to court not only wastes their money and time but also increases unnecessary pressure on the court and the administration. She urged all the elected representatives to make efforts to resolve the disputes among the villagers at the Panchayat level itself.

The President presented the National Panchayat Awards 2024, which include categories such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, Nanaji Deshmukh Sar​vottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar, Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar, and Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar. 

These awards aim to recognise and encourage Panchayats for their efforts in poverty alleviation, health, child welfare, water conservation, sanitation, infrastructure, social justice, governance, and women’s empowerment. Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan (Lallan) Singh, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S P Singh Baghel, and Secretary Panchayati Raj Vivek Bharadwaj addressed the gathering.