Panchkula: On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, on 24 April, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a comprehensive development package worth Rs 368 crore aimed at strengthening rural governance and infrastructure.
The announcement for panchayat development was made during the state-level Gram Utthan Samaroh held in Panchkula.
Major Boost to Local Development Projects
As part of the initiative, the CM inaugurated 923 development projects valued at Rs. 233 crore and laid foundation stones for an additional 413 works worth Rs. 135 crore. The projects are aimed at bolstering essential services and amenities in villages across the state.
Revenue Transfer and Support to PRIs
In a significant move to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Rs 573 crore was transferred as stamp duty revenue share to 22 Zila Parishads, 142 Panchayat Samitis, and 5,388 Gram Panchayats. The government also released Rs 18.28 crore for the construction of Mahila Chaupals in 511 villages, emphasising support for women-centric infrastructure.
Furthermore, an honorarium of Rs 1.45 crore was disbursed to 411 Zila Parishad members and 3,081 Panchayat Samiti members.
Performance-Based Incentives for Panchayats
Saini launched the Mukhyamantri Jagrit Gram Puraskar Yojana, a new performance-based reward scheme for Gram Panchayats. Panchayats will be evaluated on indicators like education, health, sanitation, women’s empowerment, agriculture, digital access, and sustainability. Top-performing panchayats will receive cash awards of Rs 51 lakh, Rs 31 lakh and Rs 21 lakh, respectively, to be reinvested in local development.
He emphasised the need to motivate and equip Panchayati Raj Institutions to strengthen grassroots democratic governance.
Training and Social Welfare Initiatives
Under the National Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, training kits were distributed, with plans to provide refresher training to all 71,000 elected PRI representatives in Haryana this year.
A major welfare highlight was the direct disbursement of Rs 12.59 crore in social security pensions to 41,591 new beneficiaries.
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