Bhubaneswar: Padua Gram Panchayat under Champua Block of Odisha’s Keonjhar district has been conferred the prestigious Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar-2025 by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the “Jal-Parayapta Panchayat” (Water-Sufficient Panchayat) category.
This national recognition honours the panchayat’s outstanding efforts in ensuring water security, efficient resource management, and active community participation at the grassroots level.
As per the ministry, Padua has emerged as a strong model through effective implementation of decentralised planning, impactful water conservation measures, and integrated schemes that promote long-term sustainability.
The district administration of Keonjhar has congratulated the Padua Gram Panchayat team, local stakeholders, and Champua Block administration for their dedicated work.
Community ownership and active participation played a significant role in transforming Padua into an exemplary water-sufficient panchayat.
District Collector Vishal Singh praised the collective efforts, strong field-level leadership, and unwavering commitment to improving rural livelihoods. “This achievement not only brings pride to Champua Block but also sets a benchmark for other panchayats in the district to emulate best practices in sustainable development and natural resource management,” he said.
