11-Sep-2026

New Delhi, 10 September 2026: Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Member of Parliament from Koraput, Odisha, has been conferred the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award 2026 as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, in recognition of the Committee’s outstanding parliamentary performance.
The award was presented at the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony held in New Delhi on 9 September 2026. The Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj was one of four Parliamentary Committees selected for the honour this year.
Under the chairmanship of Shri Ulaka, the Committee has maintained a strong record of parliamentary scrutiny and legislative oversight. During the 18th Lok Sabha, the Committee has so far presented 41 reports to Parliament, covering critical areas of rural development, Panchayati Raj, rural employment and livelihoods, rural roads, land governance, tribal rights and grassroots democracy.
Expressing his gratitude, Shri Ulaka said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Sansad Ratna Award 2026 as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj. This recognition is the result of the collective work of every Member of the Committee. I sincerely thank all Committee Members, the officers and staff of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the concerned Ministries and Departments for their cooperation.”
“Above all, I dedicate this recognition to the people of Koraput. It is their trust that has given me the privilege and responsibility of representing them in the Parliament of India. Every recognition I receive as a parliamentarian ultimately belongs to the people who sent me to Parliament.”
The Committee’s reports have examined several major issues directly affecting rural India. These include the implementation of MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), rural livelihoods and skilling, land acquisition and rehabilitation, Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), and the functioning and empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The Committee has also undertaken significant work on issues of particular importance to tribal and Scheduled Areas. Its report reviewing the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) focused on strengthening Gram Sabhas and protecting their role in community resources, land acquisition and local decision-making. The Committee has also examined the effectiveness of implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, with emphasis on genuine devolution of functions, finances and functionaries to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Shri Ulaka said that representing a predominantly rural and tribal constituency such as Koraput has given him a close understanding of the challenges faced by rural and Adivasi communities.
“Parliamentary Committees have an important responsibility to rise above political differences, scrutinise government programmes, ensure accountability and make policies work better for people on the ground. Our endeavour has been to ensure that the voices of villages, Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, women, farmers, workers, Adivasis and other marginalised communities find a meaningful place in policymaking,” he said.
The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010 by the Prime Point Foundation on the suggestion of former President of India Bharat Ratna Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The awards recognise outstanding performance by Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees based on parliamentary performance data.
In 2026, 12 Members of Parliament and four Parliamentary Standing Committees were selected for the Sansad Ratna Awards. The Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, chaired by Shri Ulaka, was among the four Committees recognised for outstanding performance.
Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka represents the Koraput (ST) Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha in the Lok Sabha and is serving as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj