Bhubaneswar: Odisha earned national acclaim on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day as Hatbhadra Gram Panchayat from Mayurbhanj district and the State Institute for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR) were felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Hatbhadra, a model gram panchayat under Kusumi block, secured the second-best gram panchayat award under the ‘Atmanirbhar Gram Panchayat’ category. The recognition highlights Hatbhadra’s exceptional strides in boosting its own source of revenue (OSR), promoting self-reliance, and advancing financial sustainability at the grassroots level.
In a parallel honor, Odisha’s SIRD&PR received the second prize in the ‘Panchayat Kshamata Nirman Sarbottam Sansthan Puraskar’ category for its stellar contributions in capacity building, mentoring, and handholding support to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the state.
Congratulating both awardees, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said, “This national recognition is a proud moment for Odisha. I extend heartfelt thanks to the PRI members, officials, and the dedicated team at SIRD&PR. Their efforts embody our vision for empowered, self-reliant Gram Panchayats.”
The accolades underscore Odisha’s growing leadership in strengthening local governance through innovation, decentralization, and institutional support.
