Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The exceptional achievement of Odisha’s Panchayats, who together won five accolades at the National Panchayat accolades 2025, was praised by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday. The Chief Minister called it a “moment of great honor for the state” and said the accomplishment demonstrates the power of grassroots government and the efficiency of group involvement in rural development.
Among the major honors, Ganjam district received the esteemed Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar–2025, making it the nation’s second-best district panchayat. Mandar Panchayat from the same district was recognized in the category of Socially Just and Socially Secure Panchayat, while Potalampur Panchayat of Ganjam district was awarded the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar–2025 in the category of Healthy Panchayat.
Hatibandha Panchayat in Sundargarh district was recognized under the Clean and Green Panchayat category, while Padua Panchayat in Keonjhar district was recognized under the Water-Sufficient Panchayat category. The Chief Minister congratulated the award-winning Panchayats and expressed gratitude to local people, elected officials, and administrative staff for their combined efforts in reaching this significant milestone. According to him, the accomplishment shows how significant grassroots change can be brought about by robust community involvement.
Majhi went on to say that these accomplishments support the idea of a “Viksit Odisha” and expressed optimism that Panchayats around the state will keep raising the bar for inclusive and sustainable rural development in the years to come.
