Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari becomes first district in country to collect property tax via SAMARTH portal

RAIPUR: Dhamtari district on Thursday became the first in the country to launch online tax collection through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal. The digital initiative was rolled out at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block, where a resident successfully paid property tax using a UPI-linked online payment gateway. The system allows rural citizens to pay taxes from their homes, aiming to simplify panchayat administration and reduce pending arrears. Union Panchayati Raj Ministry Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj, who attended the launch via video conferencing, noted that Chhattisgarh is now leading the way in digital solutions for rural governance. Chhattisgarh Principal Secretary for Panchayat and Rural Development, Niharika Barik Singh, said the move is a significant step towards self-reliant panchayats. Dhamtari Collector Abinash Mishra stated the project serves as a model for technology-driven governance in the state. Officials indicated that the online payment system may be expanded across the state following the successful pilot in Dhamtari. “Dhamtari has become the first district in the country to roll out an online property tax system across all its gram panchayats. The system will be implemented in nearly 400 panchayats to ensure hassle-free transactions for rural residents. The initiative enables people in rural areas to pay taxes through an integrated online payment gateway. Sankra has emerged as the first gram panchayat in India to establish an end-to-end digital payment system. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj Secretary has appreciated the project. The system is expected to provide gram panchayats with an independent source of revenue, strengthening their financial health and promoting self-reliance,” the Dhamtari Collector said.