On Panchayati Raj Day, Haryana Empowers Rural India with Rs 368 Crore Boost and Vision for Village Upliftment

Celebrated across the country as a tribute to the foundation of grassroots democracy, National Panchayati Raj Day in Haryana this year stood out as a landmark moment for rural governance and development. At the heart of the celebration, held in Panchkula, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini rolled out a sweeping vision to empower panchayats, bolster rural infrastructure, and extend welfare to tens of thousands of new beneficiaries.

Marking the occasion with a robust commitment to decentralised development, the Chief Minister inaugurated 923 development works worth Rs 233 crore and laid the foundation stones for another 413 projects costing Rs 135 crore. The announcements brought the total to Rs 368 crore worth of new initiatives aimed at transforming the rural landscape of Haryana.

The day also saw the transfer of Rs 573 crore to 22 district councils, 142 panchayat samitis, and 5,388 gram panchayats as their share of stamp duty, a move lauded as a significant step toward financial empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Recognizing the role of women in rural leadership, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 18.28 crore for constructing women-only community centers or ‘Mahila Chaupal’ in 511 gram panchayats.

In a move applauded by the state’s elected rural leadership, the Chief Minister also released Rs 1.45 crore in honorariums to 411 Zila Parishad and 3,081 Panchayat Samiti members, acknowledging their contributions and strengthening their roles as agents of change.

The state-level Gram Utthan Samaroh (Village Upliftment Ceremony) was attended by key figures including Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, and other senior ministers, indicating the importance the government places on rural development.

One of the most anticipated announcements of the event was the launch of the Chief Minister’s Jagruk Gram Puraskar Yojana, a competitive rewards initiative aimed at incentivizing excellence in education, sanitation, health, women empowerment, agricultural productivity, digital connectivity, and sustainable infrastructure. Under the scheme, top-performing gram panchayats will receive cash prizes of Rs 51 lakh, Rs 31 lakh, and Rs 21 lakh based on their ranking, enabling further investments in local projects.

As part of the National Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Chief Minister Saini also flagged off a year-long refresher training initiative targeting all of Haryana’s 71,000 elected rural representatives. These representatives will receive training kits and be taken on exposure visits to study exemplary rural development models from neighboring states. Emphasizing capacity building, the initiative is expected to elevate governance standards and align village leadership with national developmental goals.

Highlighting the cultural spirit of rural Haryana, the Chief Minister unveiled the booklet “Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar” – a compendium capturing the spiritual, historical, and cultural essence of one notable village from each of the 22 districts. These narratives aim to preserve and present Haryana’s rural heritage to the wider world, enriching the state’s identity.

Further amplifying the social security net, the Chief Minister transferred Rs 12.59 crore in pensions to 41,591 new beneficiaries under various social schemes. The initiative reflects the state’s shift to a proactive, tech-enabled model of service delivery, where eligible senior citizens and differently-abled individuals receive benefits directly in their bank accounts without the need to navigate bureaucratic hurdles.

Chief Minister Saini reiterated that governance is no longer about red tape but about results, and that the current administration is committed to ensuring dignity and opportunity for every rural citizen of Haryana. With this multifaceted push for panchayat empowerment, the state sets a compelling example of how rural governance can be both dynamic and deeply rooted in community values.

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