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Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh has become the first district in India to implement online property tax collection through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal, marking a milestone in digital rural governance. The initiative was formally rolled out at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block where a resident successfully paid property tax using a UPI-linked online payment system, eliminating the need for physical visits to local offices. The move aims to simplify tax payments for rural citizens, enhance transparency, and reduce pending arrears for gram panchayats. The system is slated for roll-out across nearly 400 gram panchayats in the district and may be expanded statewide, according to officials. Representatives from the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj and state Panchayat and Rural Development departments noted that the project could serve as a replicable model for technology-driven governance across rural India.
Dhamtari district in the state of Chhattisgarh has taken a pioneering step in digital rural administration by becoming the first district in the country to fully operationalise online property tax collection through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal. The SAMARTH system, designed to digitise tax and non-tax revenue streams at the gram panchayat level, was formally launched at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block, where a local resident completed a UPI-enabled property tax payment, signalling the practical start of the initiative. Advertisement
Officials said the digital payment facility will allow residents in rural areas to pay property taxes from home or any internet-enabled location, thereby reducing dependence on traditional, physical payment modes and helping to address long-standing issues related to pending tax arrears. The system is expected to streamline panchayat operations and improve revenue realisation for local bodies.
The launch event was attended virtually by Union Panchayati Raj Ministry Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj, who highlighted the achievement as a significant step in adopting digital solutions for grassroots governance. State Principal Secretary for Panchayat and Rural Development Niharika Barik Singh described the initiative as a key move towards building self-reliant panchayats, while Dhamtari District Collector Abinash Mishra noted that the project could serve as a replicable model for other districts and states.
Officials said the online property tax payment system has already been extended to all gram panchayats in the district and is expected to be rolled out in nearly 400 rural bodies. The broader rollout underscores the intent to provide an independent and reliable source of revenue for rural local governments, strengthening their financial health and administrative capacity.
The implementation of the SAMARTH portal for property tax collection aligns with national efforts to digitise public service delivery and decentralised governance, enhancing transparency and accountability in local administration. By enabling seamless online transactions and reducing administrative burden, Dhamtari's model highlights how technology can be leveraged to improve service delivery in rural India and empower gram panchayats with modern tools for financial management.
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