Raipur: Panchayat and Rural development minister T. S. Singhdev received the National Panchayat Award, 2019 from union minister for rural development and panchayati raj, Narendra Singh Tomar at a function held at New Delhi on Wednesday.

As per awards received, Kutru Gram Panchayat of Bhairamgarh block in Bijapur won Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award while Kutelikhurd of Chhuikhadan block under Rajnandgaon district received Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar.

Chhattisgarh state in Category I was placed in third place for e-Panchayat Puraskar for effective implementation of information communication and technology (ICT) for strengthening panchayati raj system and implementation of schemes.

Deen Dayal Upadhayay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar for sanitation, civic services, natural resources management, serving marginalised section, social sector performance, disaster management, CBOs, innovation in revenue generation and e-governance category award was won by District Panchayat Kanker, Nagari of Dhamtari, S. Lohara of Kabirdham, village panchayat Surajpur based Gram Panchayat Kandari and Dongarghar based Gram Panchayat Musarakala of Rajnandgaon district on thematic e-governance, Araud of Dhamtari district, Rautala (Dongarghar) of Rajnandgaon district and Borai of Durg    district in general category.

Panchayat and Rural development minister T. S. Singhdev suggested that fund sanctioned for Prime Minister Housing Scheme should be based on geographical conditions and in Naxal affected areas there should be double  connectivity.