National Panchayati Raj Day: Date, Theme, Significance & More

April 25, 2023

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Read here all about the National Panchayati Raj Day 2023 to know about the theme, history, significance, SVAMITVA and all related details.

On April 24, Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated in India every year. This day is commemorated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj annually. It was earmarked by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2010. This day was picked for commemoration because, on April 24, 1993, the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into effect. This Act granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions.

In this article, let us learn all about National Panchayati Raj Day with its history, significance and how the day is celebrated in India.

Panchyati Raj Day Overview

Event	National Panchayati Raj Day
Date	April 24, 2010
Ministry	Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Announced by	Shri Manmohan Singh
Online portal	eGramSwaraj

What is Panchayati Raj?

The Panchayati Raj System/Institution (PRI) is a system of rural local self-government in India. This system was established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment to promote democracy and socio-political participation at the grass-root level. The Panchayat derives its powers from Article 246 of the Indian Constitution.

National Panchayati Raj Day Theme 2023

The theme for National Panchayati Raj Day 2023 is ‘Sustainable Panchayat: Building Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages’. This theme highlights the importance of promoting sustainable development in rural areas by ensuring the availability of clean water, promoting good health practices, and creating a clean and green environment.

It also emphasizes the role of Panchayati Raj institutions in achieving these goals by empowering them to take the lead in local-level planning and implementation. By promoting sustainable practices and initiatives at the grassroots level, the theme aims to create healthy, water-sufficient, clean, and green villages that are capable of meeting the needs of their residents while preserving their natural resources for future generations.

National Panchayati Raj Day History

This day was marked by then Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh to acknowledge and highlight the contribution of the PRIs towards the management of rural affairs in India.

Significance of National Panchayati Raj Day

This day brings forth the importance of the local self-government and their assistance to Central/State governments in maintaining proper affairs in rural India. On this day, the actions, roles and responsibilities of the PRIs are highlighted as well through the National Panchayat Awards. Further, this day also encourages Panchayat bodies to constantly improve and increase their participation for the smooth functioning of all matters in rural India.

National Panchayat Awards

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been stimulating the best-performing Panchayats through awards and recognition since 2011. For this, National Panchayat Awards have been issued to create awareness and share knowledge about the achievements of Panchayats in India and beyond. This will encourage the Panchayat Institutions to build a strong nation and set a unique example for other countries.

The National Panchayat Awards are delegated under the following categories;

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar
Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar
Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award
Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award.
e-Panchayat Puraskar

Also See: Evolution of the Panchayati Raj System in India

SVAMITVA

The Prime Minister of India launched The Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme on April 24, 2020, on National Panchayati Raj Day. The project launched in 2020 was a pilot project. On April 24, 2021, the full-scale project was launched pan-India.

This scheme aims to dispense property validation solutions or the ‘record of rights’ to household owners in rural areas and seeks to issue property cards. The Scheme was granted an outlay of Rs 566.23 crores to be used over five years (2020-2025). The aim of the scheme is to transform rural India.

The Prime Minister will be handing over SVAMITVA Property Cards to select beneficiaries, marking the distribution of 1.25 crore property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme across the country. Additionally, the Prime Minister will be launching the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) Campaign with the theme “Inclusive Development” or “Samaaveshi Vikas”. This campaign aims to generate 1.50 crore “Records of Rights” or Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme by August 2023.

As part of the campaign, a dedicated website and mobile app on “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – SAMAAVESHI VIKAS” will also be launched by the Prime Minister. The SVAMITVA – Meri Sampatti, Mera Haq campaign under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Samaaveshi Vikas – Inclusive Development theme aims to celebrate people’s participation in saturation of people-centric schemes, and will cover five ministries/departments including MoRD, MoPR, MoA&FW, MoH&FW, and MoFAH&D.

The national launch of these nine campaigns under the “Inclusive Development” theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav named “विकास की ओर साझे क़दम” is aimed at promoting and celebrating people’s participation in saturation of people-centric schemes, and empowering rural communities across the country.

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