National Panchayat Awards-2024

Why in News?

The National Panchayat Awards Ceremony 2024 was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
It was organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
President Smt. Draupadi Murmu presented the National Panchayat Awards to 45 awardees selected in various categories.
The President exhorted the awardees and those present to keep striving for excellence in decentralized governance.
Hon'ble Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh unveiled a booklet titled 'Best Practices on the Works of Award Winning Panchayats'.
- It documents the innovative and impactful practices of the award winning Panchayats.

Important Awardees:

Milak Amawati village of Moradabad district has been awarded the National Panchayat Award 2024.
- This village has received this award as a carbon neutral special panchayat.
- It has secured third position in the country.
Bharataul village of Bareilly district has been selected for the National Award in the category of Child Friendly Panchayat.
- Bharataul has secured second position in the country.

These awards honour communities for their exceptional work in empowering them and promoting governance at the grassroots level.
Categories included in National Panchayat Awards 2024:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award
- Nanaji Deshmukh Best Panchayat Sustainable Development Award
- Gram Urja Swaraj Special Panchayat Award
- Carbon Neutral Special Panchayat Award
- Panchayat Capacity Building Best Institution Award
These awards are important in recognising and encouraging panchayats for their efforts in poverty alleviation, health, child welfare, water conservation, sanitation, infrastructure, social justice, governance and women empowerment.
Its objective is to:
- Encourage panchayats to perform better
- Inspire other rural local bodies to perform their best.