Rural governance is getting a digital upgrade with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) unveiling ‘Pancham’ – a cutting-edge Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot – alongside UNICEF. Detailed in a Saturday statement from New Delhi, this initiative targets empowering over 250,000 panchayats with on-demand knowledge and aid.
‘Pancham’ stands out as a vital tool in the ministry’s arsenal to modernize local administration, offering quick responses to queries on development schemes, legal frameworks, and operational guidelines. It’s a step towards making every panchayat a hub of informed decision-making.
Sunday brings the spotlight to excellence with a high-profile recognition event. Nearly 240 top-performing panchayat chiefs, nominated by states and UTs, will be feted for their role in scheme saturation and Viksit Bharat goals. Union MoS Professor SP Singh Baghel will present awards to these sarpanchs, mukhiyas, and chairs.
Key launches at the event include the 17th Gramodya Sankalp, 2025 PRI statistics handbook, service delivery expert report, and PESA indicators – essential for tracking and elevating rural performance nationwide.
These achievers, invited with families to total 450 guests, will experience Republic Day grandeur. January 25 includes the PM Museum tour, tracing India’s leadership saga, and the MoPR tableau spotlighting ‘SwaMithva Yojana: Self-Reliant Panchayats Building a Prosperous India’.
In the broader festive context, President Murmu’s eve-of-Republic Day speech at 7 PM will air on radio and TV, delivering messages of hope and direction in Hindi and English to every corner of the country.