New Delhi, January 24 (IANS). The Panchayati Raj Ministry on Saturday said that it is going to launch a new initiative named ‘Pancham’ (Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot) in collaboration with UNICEF. This chatbot has been created to provide information and help to Panchayats.
The ministry also informed that a felicitation ceremony will be organized on Sunday. The event will honor the elected Panchayat representatives who have been invited as special guests to witness the 2026 Republic Day Parade on the duty path in New Delhi.
According to the statement of the ministry, these Panchayat representatives will be honored by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Professor SP Singh Baghel.
Many important documents and publications will also be released during this program. These include the 17th issue of Gramodaya Sankalp Patrika, Compilation of Basic Data 2025 on Panchayati Raj Institutions, Report of the Expert Committee on Services at Panchayat Level and PESA Performance and Implementation Rank Indicator.
The statement said that those honored include Sarpanch, Mukhiya, Village Head, Block and District Panchayat President. All of them come from those panchayats where major schemes of the central government have been fully implemented.
About 240 panchayat chiefs have been nominated by states and union territories. They are being honored for the work done at the grassroots level and their contribution in furthering the goal of a developed India.
The ministry is inviting heads of Panchayati Raj institutions and rural local bodies along with their spouses for the Republic Day parade. In this way, a total of about 450 special guests will attend the program.
These special guests will also visit the Prime Minister’s Museum on January 25, where they will be able to witness the journey of leadership and governance of India since independence. He will also see the tableau of the Ministry in the Republic Day Parade, the theme of which is “Svamitva Yojana: Prosperous and Self-reliant India through Self-reliant Panchayat”.
Meanwhile, President Draupadi Murmu will address the nation on the eve of the 77th Republic Day on Sunday. His address will be broadcast on the entire national network of All India Radio at 7 pm and will be shown first in Hindi and then in English on all channels of Doordarshan.
–IANS
DBP/DKP