In a landmark achievement for rural Jammu & Kashmir, Wagoora Gram Panchayat in Budgam district has secured the third position at the national level for the prestigious Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) 2025, winning a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.
The award, conferred under the category "Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat," was presented during the National Panchayat Awards function at the Scope Convention Centre in New Delhi. Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, handed over the honour to a five-member delegation from Jammu and Kashmir’s Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
The honour recognises Wagoora's outstanding performance in inclusive governance, social justice, and sustainable rural development. The Gram Panchayat emerged victorious after a rigorous national-level evaluation process that involved thousands of Panchayats from across the country.
Officials credited the achievement to the visionary leadership of Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar and the sustained guidance of Secretary, Rural Development Department & Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad.
Under Aijaz Asad's leadership, the department adopted a focused strategy to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions, improve grassroots governance, and ensure effective implementation of welfare programmes. Regular reviews, handholding of Panchayats, and continuous monitoring were instrumental in enabling Wagoora to achieve this national distinction.
The award reflects the collective efforts of Panchayati Raj Institutions, elected representatives, local communities, and field functionaries in strengthening grassroots democracy across Jammu & Kashmir.
Officials termed the achievement as a testament to the growing strength of participatory planning, social welfare delivery, community-led development, and effective local governance in the Union Territory.
The Rs 25 lakh prize money is expected to be utilised for further developmental initiatives in the Gram Panchayat, setting a benchmark for others to follow.
Wagoora's achievement is especially significant given the scale of competition and the rigorous evaluation process, which goes far beyond documentation and self-reporting.
Unlike conventional award processes, the DDUPSVP 2025 evaluation involved a dedicated inspection team from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj that physically visited Wagoora Gram Panchayat for an on-ground assessment.
The visiting team conducted a thorough inspection of community assets, infrastructure, and service delivery mechanisms, verifying the actual status of welfare scheme implementation across multiple line departments.
The MoPR team assessed the functioning of key departments including Health , Education NRLM and other associated agencies.
They physically verified the condition and operational status of Anganwadi centres under ICDS, examining their facilities, beneficiary registers, nutrition supplies, and early childhood services. The Sub-Health Centre and Primary Health Centre infrastructure under the National Health Mission (NHM) was also reviewed for service delivery, medicine availability, and staffing. The team further assessed the NRLM-linked Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for financial activity, bank linkages, and livelihood outcomes, along with the MGNREGA worksite assets and their quality and utility.
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 the organisation of special campaigns and gram Sabhas.