Ministry of Panchayati Raj to award young leaders from Chhattisgarh for excellence in participatory governance on January 28  

Raipur— In a moment of great pride for Chhattisgarh, Eklavya Model Residential School, Kosambudha, has emerged as the national winner in the first-of-its-kind "Model Youth Gram Sabha" competition. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will formally felicitate the winning team from Chhattisgarh at a grand national awards ceremony to be held in New Delhi on January 28, 2026. This is a major victory for Chhattisgarh's tribal education system. Outperforming participants from over 800 schools across the country, the students of EMRS Kosambudha demonstrated an exceptional understanding of rural governance. Launched on October 30, 2025, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Education, the initiative aimed to inspire youth to address grassroots issues through mock Gram Sabha sessions. Chhattisgarh's top position reflects how strongly the state has imbibed democratic values ​​within its tribal residential school system. Expressing his delight at this prestigious achievement, Dr. Kamalakant Yadav, Principal of EMRS Kosambudha, said, "It is a matter of great joy that our school has been awarded first place at the national level in the Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative. This success reflects the hard work of our students and their deep understanding of the problems related to rural development. This visionary initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Central Government is an effective platform to connect students with democratic processes and participatory governance. Through this event, students have had the opportunity to closely understand the decision-making process at the grassroots level. We are excited to participate in the felicitation ceremony to be held in New Delhi on January 28th." The "Model Youth Gram Sabha," a visionary initiative for youth engagement, was launched on October 30, 2025. In less than three months, this program has reached more than 800 schools across India, fostering a culture of participatory governance among youth." Among the top six shortlisted teams from across the country, EMRS Kosambudha has set new standards for discipline in conducting Gram Sabhas and practical solutions to local problems. The felicitation ceremony on January 28th will celebrate the achievements of these young ambassadors of democracy, a major milestone in preparing responsible citizens of the future.