Dhamtari First District to Collect Property Tax via SAMARTH Portal

chhattisgarh/">Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district on Thursday became the first in the country to collect property tax through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal, marking a major step in digital rural governance. The initiative was formally launched at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block, where a resident successfully paid property tax using a UPI-enabled online payment gateway, setting a national precedent for technology-led decentralised administration.

Launch of End-to-End Digital Tax Collection

The rollout enables rural citizens to pay property tax from their homes through an integrated online system, reducing dependence on manual processes and minimising delays. Officials said the platform is designed to simplify panchayat administration, improve transparency and address the issue of pending arrears. Sankara has emerged as the first gram panchayat in India to operationalise a complete digital payment workflow for local taxes.

National Recognition and Administrative Push

Union Panchayati Raj Ministry Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj, who joined the launch via video conferencing, said Chhattisgarh is setting an example in adopting digital solutions for grassroots governance. Chhattisgarh Principal Secretary for Panchayat and Rural Development Niharika Barik Singh described the initiative as a key move towards building self-reliant and financially empowered panchayats. Dhamtari Collector Abinash Mishra said the project could serve as a replicable model for other districts.

Statewide Expansion and Governance Impact

Officials confirmed that the online property tax system has been rolled out across all gram panchayats in Dhamtari district and will be implemented in nearly 400 panchayats. Following the success of the pilot, the system is expected to be expanded across Chhattisgarh. The move is aimed at providing gram panchayats with an independent and reliable revenue source, strengthening their financial health and supporting effective local self-governance.

Important Facts for Exams

• Dhamtari is the first district in India to collect property tax via the SAMARTH Panchayat portal.
• The launch took place at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block.
• The system uses UPI-linked online payment gateways.
• The initiative supports digital governance and self-reliant panchayats.

Boost to Digital Rural Governance

The SAMARTH portal initiative aligns with broader national efforts to digitise public service delivery and empower local bodies. By enabling seamless tax payments and improving revenue collection efficiency, the Dhamtari model highlights how technology can bridge administrative gaps in rural India and enhance accountability at the grassroots level.