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Gujarat's Tirthgam-Pavangam Schemes Recognize 17 Crime-Free Rajkot Villages

The Gujarat government has selected 17 villages in Rajkot district under its 'Tirthgam' and 'Pavangam' schemes over the last two financial years. These schemes aim to honor villages with no crime records, other than accidents, for five and three years respectively. Selected villages must also meet strict social benchmarks including eradicating untouchability, achieving full school enrolment, and maintaining cleanliness. State Panchayat Minister Sanjaysinh Mahida outlined the criteria in the Assembly, emphasizing the government's commitment to holistic rural development.

Key Points: Gujarat's 17 Villages Honored as Crime-Free Tirthgam & Pavangam

  • 17 villages selected over two years
  • Schemes promote crime-free, harmonious villages
  • Criteria include 5-year & 3-year clean crime records
  • Villages must meet social benchmarks like 100% school enrolment
2 min read

Gujarat's Rajkot records 17 villages under Tirthgam-Pavangam schemes over two years

17 villages in Rajkot, Gujarat, selected under Tirthgam & Pavangam schemes for zero crime records and meeting social development benchmarks.

"always committed to ensuring that rural citizens receive direct benefits - Sanjaysinh Mahida"

Gandhinagar, Feb 28

The Gujarat government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting crime-free and socially progressive villages, with state Panchayat Minister Sanjaysinh Mahida informing the state Assembly that 17 villages were selected under the 'Tirthgam' and 'Pavangam' schemes over the past two financial years.

Replying to a question during the ongoing session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Saturday, Mahida outlined key features of the schemes, which aim to encourage communal harmony, resolve disputes locally and ensure holistic rural development.

He said the state government, under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, remained "always committed to ensuring that rural citizens receive direct benefits of various schemes of the Panchayat Department".

Explaining the criteria, the Minister said a village in which no crime other than accidents had been registered during the previous five years was declared a 'Tirthgam'. Villages with no crime other than accidents for the past three years were selected as 'Pavangam'.

In addition to maintaining a clean crime record, villages must comply with specific social benchmarks, including eradication of untouchability, 100 per cent school enrolment, maintenance of cleanliness and adherence to prohibition norms.

"The scheme has been implemented with the noble objective of fostering mutual harmony in rural areas, ensuring that disputes are resolved within the village itself and enabling comprehensive development," Mahida told the House.

He also referred to the 2012 amendment to the scheme, under which general category villages are required to secure a minimum of 70 marks out of 100 to qualify for benefits, while tribal villages must obtain at least 60 marks.

Providing district-level data, Mahida said that in the Rajkot district, six villages were selected under the schemes in the financial year 2023-24, while 11 villages were chosen in 2024-25.

The Minister said the government would continue to ensure that eligible villages benefit directly from the Panchayat Department's initiatives.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see the government promoting communal harmony and local dispute resolution. But I hope the implementation is transparent and the benefits actually reach the villagers. Sometimes these schemes look great on paper but the ground reality is different.
V
Vikram M
The criteria seem very strict - no crime for 5 years for Tirthgam! That's a high bar, but it sets a wonderful example. It encourages communities to police themselves and maintain peace. Hope this inspires other districts.
R
Rohit P
Including the eradication of untouchability as a benchmark is crucial. True development is social development. Respect to the villages that have achieved this.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the different scoring for general and tribal villages (70 vs 60 marks). Recognizes the different challenges, which is thoughtful. The holistic approach covering education, cleanliness, and prohibition is commendable.
N
Nikhil C
While the intent is noble, I'm a bit skeptical. "No crime registered" could also mean crimes are not reported due to social pressure or fear. The focus should be on creating an environment where people feel safe to report, not just on maintaining a clean record.
M
Meera T
This is the kind of positive news we need! 17 villages in two years is a good start. Hope they share

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