Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 31: In a landmark achievement for grassroots governance in Jammu & Kashmir, Wagoora Gram Panchayat in Budgam district has secured the 3rd rank nationally in the prestigious National Panchayat Awards under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) 2025 category.
The award, instituted by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), was conferred under the theme “Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat” placing Wagoora among the top-performing Gram Panchayats in the country.
Wagoora’s achievement is especially significant given the scale of competition and the rigorous evaluation process, which goes far beyond documentation and self-reporting.
Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department , Javid Ahmad Dar, congratulated Wagoora Gram Panchayat, Budgam, for securing the honour, calling it a major milestone for grassroots governance in J&K.
Wagoora, located in B.K. Pora Block, has emerged as a model for rural governance by prioritizing the socio-economic upliftment of vulnerable groups. The Panchayat’s success is rooted in its proactive “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) approach and a commitment to digital empowerment, serving a population of approximately 4,000 residents.
The administration achieved 100 percent coverage under the ISSS and NSAP pension schemes for senior citizens and widows through conduct of special enrollment camps, ensuring that no eligible beneficiary was left out. Nearly, 90 percent of Persons with Disabilities in the Panchayat were facilitated with UDID cards, guaranteeing their seamless access to welfare services. Simultaneously, near-universal enrollment was secured under the Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) health insurance scheme, providing financial protection to households across the village.
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