DAANVEER initiative aims to strengthen digital infra in villages

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Wednesday launched DAANVEER, a citizen participation initiative that enables individuals and organisations to voluntarily contribute computers to gram panchayats through the Meri Panchayat mobile application to strengthen digital infrastructure at the grassroots.

Launching the initiative, Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said DAANVEER aims to ensure every gram panchayat is digitally equipped, connected and future-ready while creating a transparent and accountable platform for citizens to support local institutions.

Describing the initiative as a step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, Bharadwaj said DAANVEER gives citizens, including members of the Indian diaspora, an opportunity to contribute to the development of their native villages.

“A computer in a gram panchayat is no longer merely a device for maintaining records; it is an enabler of faster service delivery, greater transparency and improved governance,” he said.

He said the initiative should be seen as a partnership platform rather than a donation drive, making citizens active participants in strengthening local self-governance and advancing the vision of Digital India.

Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and DigiHaat, DAANVEER provides an end-to-end digital and verifiable mechanism through which citizens and organisations can contribute towards the technology and infrastructure needs of gram panchayats.

The initiative is available through the Meri Panchayat app, which is integrated with the DigiHaat marketplace. Donors can choose from pre-approved computer bundles mapped to state-specific technical specifications, while delivery details are automatically populated to eliminate additional paperwork.

The platform also enables contributors to track their donations from dispatch to installation and provides a digital certificate of appreciation.

Officials from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, who participated in the launch, said several citizens and philanthropists in their states had already expressed interest in donating computers to gram panchayats. They said improved digital infrastructure would enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of public service delivery.

India has nearly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, which form the foundation of grassroots governance.

The ministry said DAANVEER builds on its existing digital governance ecosystem, including e-GramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat, Sabha Saar, AuditOnline and Gram Manchitra, and seeks to bridge digital infrastructure gaps by ensuring gram panchayats are better equipped to deliver citizen-centric services.