Howrad: Gudapalli Gram Panchayat in Aurad Taluk has achieved the Gandhi Gram Puraskar for the second time in the past eight years. This recognition comes after Gudapalli village, previously part of Jojana Gram Panchayat, was established as an independent Gram Panchayat in 2015.
Despite being a district-wide development model, the new Panchayat’s achievements stand out. In the fiscal year 2018-19, it was honored with the Gandhi Gram Puraskar due to the proactive development approach led by the then PDO, Shivanand Auradhe.
Gudapalli Gram Panchayat, situated near the Telangana border, encompasses the villages of Gudapalli, Medapalli, Ujani, and Gandhinagar. A decade ago, this region lacked mobile network connectivity, and residents faced challenges in accessing basic amenities. Villagers note that there has been noticeable progress since the establishment of the new Panchayat.
Santosh Patil, the PDO of Gudapalli, commented, “Securing the Gandhi Gram Puraskar for the second time is no small feat. This achievement has been realized through the support and cooperation of our Panchayat members and administrative officers.
Significant development work has been undertaken in this area, largely attributed to the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme. Officials report that various projects, including the construction of a government school’s boundary wall, an open-air theatre, a road connecting farmers’ fields, cattle shelters, farm ponds, and embankments, have been completed at an approximate cost of Rs 2.30 crore.
The digital library in this town has garnered significant interest, featuring a well-equipped building, a collection of 5,000 books, a solar lighting system, and resources for competitive exams. Birendra Singh Thakur, the EO of the taluk panchayat, expressed his delight at witnessing children actively utilizing computers.
Shakuntala Ravindra Reddy and Namma Panchayat’s Gram Panchayat President from Gudapalli have been honored with the Gandhi Grama Puraskar. This recognition serves as a source of inspiration for us to strive for further accomplishments.
Santosh Patil, PDO, emphasizes, In addition to the employment guarantee program, we have efficiently harnessed the 15th Finance Plan and Nidhi-1 scheme. Our efforts in the areas of education, healthcare, and the self-sufficiency of farmers have earned us the Gandhi Gram Puraskar. The collaboration of our leadership and superiors plays a crucial role in this success.
