The Union Government has identified nine Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) from Odisha as ‘Beacon Panchayats’ to organise the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75).
The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has identified four Zilla Parishads of Dhenkanal, Khorda, Sambalpur and Bhadrak, three Panchayat Samitis–Hinjilicut (Ganjam), Madanpur Rampur(Kalahandi) and Boudh(Boudh District) and two Gram Panchayats- Roxa and Mundipadar in Boudh district as ‘Beacon Panchayats from Odisha.
As many as 225 Becon Panchayats have been identified in the country on the basis of their performances in several fields. Additional Secretary Ministry of Panchayati Raj Dr Chandra Sekhar Kumar chaired an orientation training programme on AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (India@75) organised by the Ministry for all 225 Beacon Panchayats. Dr Kumar emphasized upon the pivotal role to be played by Beacon Panchayats in celebration of the event in rural India in true letter and spirit.
He said the Mahotsav is a series of events organised by the Government of India to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence, and the event is being celebrated as a peoples’ movement across the country. He informed that various commemorative activities have been planned to be carried out by the State/ UT Department of Panchayati Raj and Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country to celebrate the event as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari through outreach initiatives like Jan-Samvaad and Jan-Jagran.
Dr Kumar advised State Department of Panchayati Raj and SIRD and PRs to prepare and bring out week-wise leaflet on the suggested themes such as 29 subjects/ matters listed under Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, localisation of six key goals under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with critical Roles of PRIs etc. for wider dissemination through social media and WhatsApp Groups.
Additional Secretary, MoPR requested all Beacon Gram Panchayats to set the target of setting up a library in Gram Panchayat with an aim to inculcate the habit of reading among rural youths/ kids.
The Mahotsav also provides an opportunity to showcase good practices/success stories of Beacon Panchayats and its replication in other parts of the country with proper documentation of all activities.