Owing to unprecedented situation that emerged due to second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, it has been decided to commemorate the National Panchayati Raj Day virtually on 24^th April, 2021 (Saturday). Normally, National Panchayati Raj Day is commemorated as a grand event on a big scale and on many occasions, Prime Minister has graced the occasion. This year, it was proposed to organize a national event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

24^th April, 1993 marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the Constitution (73^rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from that day.  Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates 24^th April of every year as the National Panchayati Raj Day (राष्ट्रीय पंचायती राज दिवस) (NPRD), as the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment came into force on this date. This occasion provides an opportunity for direct dialogue with Panchayat representatives from all over the country as well as recognizing their achievements to empower and motivate them further.

Every year, on this occasion, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been awarding the best performing Panchayats/States/UTs across the country under the Incentivization of Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public goods. Awards are given under various categories namely, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP), Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA), Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award and e-Panchayat Puraskar (given to States/UTs only).

This year, despite constraints and limitations, there are many outstanding performers among Panchayats all over the country. Prime Minister will click the button to transfer the award money (as Grants-in-Aid) ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.50 lakh and the amount will be directly transferred to the bank account of the Panchayats concerned in real time. This is being done for the first time. National Panchayat Awards 2021 are conferred under various categories namely, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (to 224 Panchayats), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (to 30 Gram Panchayats), Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award (to 29 Gram Panchayats), Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (to 30 Gram Panchayats) and e-Panchayat Puraskar (to 12 States).

Encouragingly, National Panchayat Awards have become a medium for creating awareness and sharing of knowledge across the country about the achievements of Panchayats, thus, raising the level of commitment of all stakeholders and benefiting the nation as a result. Empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions of our country will not only support in building a strong Indian nation, but also be able to set a unique example for other countries due to their epoch-making role in this world's largest democracy.

For National Panchayat Awards 2021 (Appraisal year 2019–20) online nominations for all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions were invited from State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations under the four categories namely, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar, Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar, Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award and Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award. More than 74,000 Panchayats had successfully applied for these awards which is an incremental progress by 28% (approx.) vis-à-vis preceding year.

Towards the objectives of socio-economic empowerment of the rural mass and making them self-reliant, a Central Sector Scheme, “Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas’ (SVAMITVA) was launched by the Prime Minister on 24^th April 2020. The pilot phase of the Scheme was implemented during 2020–2021 in States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh and few border villages of Punjab & Rajasthan. Prime Minister will dedicate the Scheme of SVAMITVA to the entire nation on 24^th April 2021. The Hon’ble Prime Minister will also launch distribution of e-property cards to 4.09 lakh property owners on this occasion. 

SVAMITVA, a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj was launched by the Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24^th April 2020. The scheme aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners in rural abadi areas and issuance of Property cards.

The Scheme has been approved for implementation at an outlay of Rs 566.23 cr across the country in phased manner over a period of five years (2020-2025) and would eventually cover approx. 6.62 lakh villages of the entire country.

Nearly in 40,000 thousand villages in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and few border villages of Punjab & Rajasthan drone flying have been completed, along with establishment of Continuous Operating System (CORS) stations’ network across Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab & Rajasthan in the Pilot phase during 2020-21.

On 24^th April, 2021, on the occasion of 12^th National Panchayati Raj Day, alongwith distribution of various National awards to better performing  Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Prime Minister will also electronically distribute Property Cards/ Title deeds (Sampatti Patrak) under the SVAMITVA Scheme to nearly 409945 property holder’s of 5002 villages. Most of the property holders would be able to download their Property Cards through the SMS link delivered on their mobile phones. This would be followed by physical distribution of the Property Cards/ Title Deeds by the respective State governments following due Covid protocols.­­­­

Subsequently, physical distribution of Property Cards would be completed following COVID appropriate behaviour to the residents of 5002 villages consisting 1308 from Haryana, 410 from Karnataka, 99 from Maharashtra, 1399 from Madhya Pradesh, 39 from Rajasthan, 1409 from Uttar Pradesh and 338 from Uttarakhand.

Prime Minister will also roll out the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country in phased manner during 2020-2025 covering approx 6.62 villages of entire country. Prime Minister will release a Coffee Table Book on SVAMITVA covering various aspects of the scheme learnings, challenges and success so far.

In addition to 9 pilot phase States, most of the other States are in final stage of signing MoU with Survey of India for drone survey of rural abadi area and implementation of scheme. These States have also initiated the process for finalisation of Digital property card/Title Deed format, requisite amendments in their act for the provisioning of Property Cards/title deeds and survey of abadi areas.

Different States have different nomenclature for the Property Cards viz. ‘Title deed’ in Haryana, ‘Rural Property Ownership Records (RPOR)’ in Karnataka, ‘Adhikar Abhilekh’ in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Sannad’ in Maharashtra, ‘Patta’ in Rajasthan, ‘Svamitva Abhilekh’ in Uttarakhand,  and ‘Gharauni’ in Uttar Pradesh.

 The Scheme has the potential to transform rural India. It will pave the way for using property as a financial asset by villagers for taking loans and other financial benefits, as in the case in towns and cities. Further, this is the first time ever that such a large-scale exercise involving most modern technology is being carried out to benefit millions of rural property owners.

The NPRD–2021 programme will be telecast LIVE over DD–News, its Regional Kendras and this important virtual event will be witnessed by the Officers of Panchayati Raj Departments and other stake-holders at State / District / Block / Panchayat level across level without compromising on COVID-19 protocols, public health objectives, COVID-19 preventive measures, hand hygiene and social distancing norms.  For live web-streaming at 12:00 noon on 24^th April 2021, please log-in: https://pmindiawebcast.nic.in/  

Participants can register online for participation in the nation-wide launch of SVAMITVA scheme on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day (24.04.2021) at  https://pmevents.ncog.gov.in/

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APS/JK