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 p
er 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.