RAIPUR/NEW DELHI: Hardibhata Gram Panchayat of Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh has got a big achievement at the national level as it has been conferred Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award-2024 by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Sarpanch of Hardibhata Munen Kumar received the award from the hands of President of India Droupadi Murmu at the National Panchayat Award - 2024 ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Wednesday.

The awards are given every year in various categories by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj with the aim of promoting healthy competition among the Panchayats. This year these awards were given to a total of 45 panchayats and institutions from 15 states.

27 panchayats have received the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Award. This award is given under a total of 9 subjects, which include poverty-free and improved livelihood-rich Panchayat, healthy Panchayat, child-friendly Panchayat, water-sufficient Panchayat, clean and green Panchayat, self-reliant infrastructure-rich Panchayat, socially equitable and socially sustainable Panchayat. Protected Panchayat, well-governed Panchayat and women-friendly Panchayat are included.

Gram Panchayat Hardibhata has been awarded in the category of socially just and socially protected panchayat. Gram Panchayat was also given a prize money of Rs 50 lakh.