Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj addressed the technical session on LSDG Themes 2, 4 & 5: Healthy Panchayat, Water Sufficient Panchayat and Clean and Green Panchayat, during National Panchayat Awards Week 2023 in the presence of Shri Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, other senior officers of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and State Departments of Panchayati Raj and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions from different States/ UTs.

 

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India celebrated the ‘National Panchayati Raj Award Week 2023’ which commenced on 17^th April and culminated on 21^st April, 2023. On 20^th April 2023 i.e., the 4^th day of the auspicious celebration focused on three themes: ‘Theme 2 – Healthy Panchayat’, ‘Theme 4 – Water Sufficient Panchayat’, and ‘Theme 5 – Clean and Green Panchayat’. The celebration took place at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC, Pusa, New Delhi.

On the 4^th day of National Panchayat Awards Week Celebrations on 20^th April 2023, the Technical Session–I on Theme 2: Healthy Panchayat was held under the chairmanship of Shri Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The composition of the panel included representatives of Gram Panchayats, Ministry officials, and Domain Experts.

Ms. Podium Sujatha, Sarpanch, Gowthampur Gram Panchayat, Bhadadri Kothagudem District, Telangana, addressed the challenges of sanitation and garbage disposal faced by the gram and the initiatives implemented to overcome them. The Gram Panchayat conducted door-to-door campaigns to raise awareness among the community about personal hygiene and proper waste management, with the ultimate goal of achieving a Healthy Panchayat. Shri Madan Mohan Sethi, Sarpanch of Kanchura Gram Panchayat of Ganjam district of Odisha, has built LSDG Theme-2 Healthy Panchayat by providing basic facilities to the village and villagers. Smt. Shashi Dhruv, Sarpanch of Sankra Gram Panchayat of Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh, discussed actions taken for building a Healthy Panchayat, as well as the Gram Sabhas conducted in the Panchayat in this matter.

Shri (Dr.) Mallinath Kalshetti, DDG, YASHADA, Government of Maharashtra welcomed Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj for a technical session on Theme 4 of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) – Water Sufficient Panchayat.

 

Ms. Aseena Manaaf, Alayaamon Gram Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala, focused on the successful efforts made by the gram panchayat in the realm of health and sanitation through meticulous planning. Smt. Dilshad Begum, Sarpanch of Falmarg Gram Panchayat, Kupwara District, Jammu & Kashmir, has achieved the target of LSDG Theme 4 – Adequate Jal Panchayat, providing water through tap water to villagers. Ms. Chitla Swarupa Rani, Sarpanch, Nellutla, Telangana briefed on roadmap for the Sustainability of Thematic achievements & enlightened the States on different activities being conducted to save water and preserve the environment.

Shri Nisar P., Vice President, Perumpadappa Gram Panchayat, Malappuram, Kerala, highlighted the exemplary efforts made by the GP to overcome water problems, such as water contamination. These efforts include the implementation of sustainable solutions and testing of water quality, with the ultimate goal of creating a Water Sufficient Panchayat.

Shri Shiv Mohan Dixit, Representative, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Advisor, National Water Mission, discussed the important decisions taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for water conservation, to ensure adequate water availability to the citizens in future.

Later, Padma Shri Shri Popatrao Bahuji Pawar, Deputy Sarpanch of Hiware Bazar Gram Panchayat under Ahmednagar District in Maharashtra discussed the issues of increasing the water level in Panchayats in a scientific manner, so that the water problem in villages and across the country can be solved.

Shri Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj said in his address that at present the availability of water is decreasing, so all the citizens along with the panchayats have to work together for water conservation and show their support in the initiative of adequate water. Participation of community and local residents has to be ensured.

Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj addressed the technical session on Theme 4 of LSDG – Water Sufficient Panchayat during National Conference on Water Sufficient Panchayat, Clean & Green Panchayat and Healthy Panchayat.

 

In his address, the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj said that Panchayati Raj is the focal point of the country's development. The upliftment of the village paves the way to make the country self-reliant.

Further, he explained the importance of water conservation and said that all citizens should start water conservation from their homes, in his address. He highlighted that water conservation and reservoir construction can help in the development of carbon neutral, sufficient water Panchayats and fisheries for members of Self-Help Groups. Union Minister of Panchayati Raj urged the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats of the country to work together and put-in concerted efforts to ensure all round development of the whole of India.

Technical session on theme 5 of LSDG – Clean and Green Panchayat was then inaugurated under the chairmanship of Smt. Rita Khanna, Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Shri Dagadu Chindhu Khade, Sarpanch of Kundal Gram Panchayat under Sangli District in Maharashtra has taken important steps to achieve the goal of LSDG Theme 5 – Clean and Green Panchayat, for which the Gram Panchayat has got the first prize at the hands of Hon’ble President of India during National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats-cum-Award Distribution Ceremony.

Syasan Ambagam Gram Panchayat of Ganjam District in Odisha has made several innovative efforts to achieve the goal of Clean and Green Panchayat, information related to which was given by Shri Subrata Kumar Jena, BDO, Hinjilicut, Ganjam. Shri Arshanapelli Venkateswar Rao, Sarpanch from Sulthanpur Gram Panchayat Eligad, Peddapalli, Telangana highlighted the impressive developmental activities pursued in the Gram Panchayat to achieve Theme 5- Clean & Green Panchayat under LSDG and made its way to win third award at NPAW2023.

 

Smt. Priyanka Tiwari, Sarpanch, Rajpur Gram Panchayat, Hathras District, Uttar Pradesh, delivered a keynote address on the several initiatives implemented to rectify the waste disposal system and promote cleanliness and hygiene in the Gram Panchayat.

  

Shri Arvind Saklani, Sarpanch of Jargaon Gram Panchayat of Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, is moving fast towards the construction of clean and green Panchayat with the resolution of planting about 50 thousand trees. Shri Jagdeep Singh, Sarpanch of Majri Gram Panchayat of Mohali District, Punjab, is leading the way in generating electricity through solar panels as well as increasing agricultural productivity at a lower cost for the villagers. He has played an important role in water conservation and building a clean and green panchayat. Smt. Rajani P., Sarpanch, Payam Gram Panchayat, Kannur District, Kerala, spoke about various initiatives that have been implemented by GP in solid waste management. These include a mega cleanliness program, waste collection facility and segregation of waste. The ultimate aim of these efforts is to make the Panchayat plastic-free and achieve Theme 5- Clean & Green Panchayat of LSDG.

Smt. Mamta Verma concluded the Technical Session III on Theme 5- Clean & Green Panchayat on the fourth day of NPAW2023 and thanked all the panelists for joining the event. She appreciated the Gram Panchayats for their qualitative work towards development of Rural India.

 

The 4^th day of the event came to an end with rendezvous performance of cultural folk dance and music that was beautifully applauded and received by the audiences / participants of National Panchayat Awards Week–2023 Celebrations.

 

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PK

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