New Delhi, April 24, (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended wishes on National Panchayati Raj Day, observed on April 24 every year to celebrate the constitutional status accorded to Panchayati Ray system in the country. “Wishing you all a very happy National Panchayati Raj Day. The Panchayats are the pillars of Indian democracy, in whose strength lies the prosperity of new India. Let us resolve to further empower our Panchayats in building a self-reliant India,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet. The Prime Minister is set to attend the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day in Jammu and Kashmir and to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth around Rs 20,000 crore. The visit is going to be Modi’s first ever since the BJP-led Centre ended the erstwhile special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The PM will address all the Gram Sabhas across the country from here. He visit Palli Panchayat in Samba district. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been awarding the best performing Panchayats/States/UTs across the country on this day under the Incentivization of Panchayats Scheme in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public goods. Awards are given under various categories namely, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP), Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA), Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award and e-Panchayat Puraskar. This year, for National Panchayat Awards–2022 (Appraisal Year 2020-21), a total of 322 number of awards to Panchayats have been declared, Ministry of Panchayati Raj said in a statement.
The Prime Minister will directly transfer total Rs 44.70 crore as prize money ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh to the bank account of 322 awardee Panchayats across 31 States and UTs in the country digitally from the venue of celebration at Palli Gram Panchayat under Samba District. The PM will also inaugurate the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3100 crore. “The 8.45 Km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hour. It is a twin tube tunnel – one for each direction of travel – with the twin tubes being interconnected by a cross passage every 500m, for maintenance and emergency evacuation,” the PMO said. The tunnel would help establish an all weather connection between Jammu and Kashmir, and bring the two regions closer. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs. 7500 crore. “They are for the construction of 4/6 lane access controlled Delhi-Katra-Amritsar Expressway from Balsua on NH-44 to Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar; Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar to Jakh, Vijaypur; and Jakh, Vijaypur to Kunjwani, Jammu with spur connectivity to Jammu Airport,” the PMO said. The PM will also lay the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects.
The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project will be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar District at a cost of around Rs 5300 crore. The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on Chenab river in Kishtwar District at a cost of over Rs. 4500 crore. Both the projects will help meet the power requirements of the region. In order to further expand the network of Jan Aushadi Kendras, the Prime Minister will also dedicate 100 Jan Aushadi Kendras in Jammu and Kashmir to make good quality generic medicines at affordable prices available. These Kendras are located in the remote corners of the Union Territory. The PM will also inaugurate a 500 KW solar power plant at Palli, which will make it the country’s first panchayat to become carbon neutral, the PMO said. Prime Minister will hand over SVAMITVA cards to beneficiaries under the scheme. He will also transfer award money to Panchayats which are winners of awards given across different categories on National panchayati Raj Day for their achievements. Prime Minister will also visit the INTACH photo gallery which depicts the rural heritage of the region, and Nokia Smartpur, a rural entrepreneurship-based model designed to create ideal smart villages in India. The Prime Minister will also launch a new initiative named Amrit Sarovar with a view to ensure rejuvenation of water bodies during the visit to Jammu and Kashmir. It is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country, the PMO said.