THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

CHATRAPUR, JUNE 3, 2026

Ganjam district has once again stamped its authority on the national stage, securing three prestigious awards from the Government of India and emerging as Odisha’s top-performing district in the Panchayati Raj sector. The remarkable achievement was celebrated in New Delhi, where Ganjam was honoured for excellence in grassroots governance, sustainable development and people-centric administration.

Adding another feather to its cap, Ganjam was adjudged the Second Best District Panchayat in India under the coveted Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Sustainable Development Award, reaffirming its position as one of the country’s leading models of local self-governance.

The district’s success story was further strengthened by two outstanding Gram Panchayats. Mandar Panchayat under Polsara Block was recognised as the Second Best “Socially Just and Secure” Panchayat in the country, while Potlampur Panchayat of Chatrapur Block secured the distinction of being the Third Best Healthy Panchayat in India under the Deendayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development Awards.

Significantly, out of four Panchayats and one district from Odisha selected for the national honours, Ganjam alone accounted for three awards, highlighting the district’s exceptional performance and commitment to inclusive development.

The awards, trophies, citations and incentive grants were presented by the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj at a grand ceremony in New Delhi. Receiving the honours on behalf of the people of Ganjam were Zilla Parishad Chairperson Anjali Swain, Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, Chief Executive Officer-cum-Chief Development Officer of Ganjam Zilla Parishad Sameer Kumar Jena, APD Bijay Behera, Polsara BDO Shashibhusan Mohapatra, Chatrapur BDO Sambit Sangramjit Sahu, Potlampur Sarpanch Niranjan Pradhan, PEO Rozalin Behera, Mandar Sarpanch Sunita Jena and Bani Sukanta of the Zilla Parishad office.

As part of the recognition, Ganjam district received an incentive amount of Rs 3 crore, while Mandar Panchayat was awarded Rs 37.50 lakh and Potlampur Panchayat received Rs 25 lakh.

Expressing pride over the historic accomplishment, Collector V. Keerthi Vasan said the achievement was the result of the collective efforts and cooperation of public representatives, Panchayati Raj institutions, district and local administration, Self Help Groups and, above all, the people of Ganjam. He credited the citizens of the district for the success and expressed confidence that the awards would inspire all Panchayats to undertake more people-centric welfare initiatives in the years ahead.

The national awards are based on nine key development parameters identified by the Government of India for achieving sustainable growth at the grassroots level. Ganjam’s exemplary performance across these indicators earned it the coveted honours.

The Collector noted that the district has consistently earned national recognition over the years and has once again upheld its glorious legacy. He urged citizens to reject single-use plastics, strengthen environmental conservation through extensive plantation drives, adhere to rules and regulations, and work with greater dedication in the fields of education, healthcare, sports, literature and culture to elevate Ganjam’s reputation on the global stage.

The achievement has sparked celebrations across the district, with congratulatory messages pouring in from various quarters. The triple national honour not only showcases Ganjam’s governance excellence but also reinforces its emergence as a benchmark for sustainable and inclusive rural development in India.