Tirupati: Bommasamudram, a small village in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, has drawn national attention after bagging the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar for being India’s Healthiest Panchayat.
President Droupadi Murmu handed over the award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, to Bommasamudram village sarpanch V. Raghunath at a ceremony held in New Delhi.
Bommasamudram’s achievement is a testament to the panchayat’s innovative approach to rural health and welfare. Over the years, the panchayat has transformed itself into a model for community-driven development by effectively implementing the state and central government schemes. In particular, it has taken major strides in healthcare access, sanitation and overall public health outcomes.
One of the standout initiatives at Bommasamudram village has been the distribution of Ayushman Bharat health cards to 100 per cent of the people in the village. This has enabled every resident of the village to access healthcare services without any financial burden. It has led to zero maternal and infant mortality rates and no cases of dengue in recent years.
The village prioritised child health through complete immunisation drives, deworming campaigns, and regular health check-ups in schools and Anganwadi centres. It combated anaemia among adolescent girls through routine screenings and providing iron-folic acid supplements to them. Pregnant and lactating women are provided special care, with Anganwadi centres offering nutritious meals and conducting breastfeeding awareness sessions to promote maternal and infant health.
Bommasamudram sarpanch V. Raghunath dedicated the award to the collective effort of the villagers, healthcare workers, and local officials, particularly panchayat secretary Y. Mounika. He described the recognition as a challenge to work harder in the village, initiating more welfare projects during the remaining year of his tenure.
Access to clean water and sanitation has been central to Bommasamudram’s success. The panchayat has ensured that all households receive safe drinking water, with tanks cleaned and chlorinated every 15 days. Awareness campaigns on hygiene, toilet usage and disease prevention have fostered a healthier lifestyle among residents. Regular fogging, drain cleaning, and handwashing drives have minimised the risk of waterborne diseases.
District officials lauded Bommasamudram’s success. District collector Sumit Kumar called it a “national benchmark” in rural development. “Bommasamudram’s holistic development model now serves as an inspiration for villages across India, proving that community-driven initiatives can bring about transformative change in rural areas,” he underlined.
