The Gujarat government, led by Panchayat Minister Sanjaysinh Mahida, is dedicated to advancing crime-free and socially progressive villages. Mahida informed the state Assembly about 17 villages selected under the ‘Tirthgam’ and ‘Pavangam’ schemes in the last two financial years. These initiatives, aimed at promoting communal harmony, local dispute resolution, and overall rural development, are a key focus for the government.
Under these schemes, villages with no crimes except accidents in the past five years are categorized as ‘Tirthgam,’ while those with a clean record for three years fall under ‘Pavangam.’ Villages must also meet social criteria like eradicating untouchability, ensuring full school enrollment, maintaining cleanliness, and following prohibition norms. The government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, is committed to ensuring rural citizens directly benefit from various Panchayat Department schemes.
Mahida highlighted that villages need to achieve a minimum score to qualify for benefits, with general category villages requiring 70 out of 100 marks and tribal villages needing at least 60 marks. In Rajkot district, six villages were selected under these schemes in the 2023-24 financial year, with 11 villages chosen in 2024-25. The government’s focus remains on enabling eligible villages to directly access the Panchayat Department’s programs for their development.
