Lucknow: India is a country of villages, and Uttar Pradesh, with the highest population, is its representative state. The zeal for development in the villages here is acting as an inspiration for other states. The farsighted thinking of the village heads of Uttar Pradesh has brought a new wave of development, and various innovations in different fields have given a concrete form to the concept of Gram Swaraj.

If we call this time the 'amritkal of construction', then the contribution of the village heads is the most important in it. Expressways, airports and cultural centers are being constructed in the country, while basic facilities like roads, water tanks, housing, toilets, and panchayat buildings are being developed in the villages. The heads of our panchayats have participated enthusiastically in this construction revolution and are continuously contributing.

The country's number-1 cement brand, UltraTech, is also an integral part of this new construction. 'Ultratech Yashasvi Pradhan' is a campaign in which there will be healthy competition among the heads of Gram Panchayats. It will bring forth new thoughts, new concepts, and new ideas.

There are more than 58 thousand Gram Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh, and about 70 percent of the state's population lives in villages. In such a situation, the development of the state and the country cannot be imagined without the overall development of villages. After independence, the system of democratic decentralization was adopted with this objective, so that the participation of the common people in governance and power could be ensured.

Today, the Panchayati Raj system appears strong and empowered. Gram Panchayats are now taking development decisions on their own and are also active in raising financial resources. 'UltraTech-Yashsvi Pradhan' aims to honour these Gram Pradhans for their excellent work and advanced constructions.

In this campaign, village heads are being invited to present their projects. For the smooth running of the campaign, 75 districts of the state have been divided into 13 centers. The heads of the gram panchayats under each center will present their projects, which will be evaluated by a three-member jury. 20 participants will be selected from each center and will be honored, and their entries will be sent for selection at the state level.

20 out of 260 participants will be awarded the title of 'Ultratech-Yashasvi Pradhan' after being assessed on pre-determined parameters by the Grand Jury at the state level. Only current Gram Pradhans can participate in this campaign, and only the projects started by them during their current tenure will be valid. Applications will be valid for projects completed between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2024. The application is free.