Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka has been conferred the Sansad Ratna Award 2026 for his outstanding performance as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
The award was presented at the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony held in New Delhi.
Under Ulaka’s chairmanship, the Committee presented 41 reports to Parliament during the 18th Lok Sabha, covering crucial areas such as rural employment, livelihoods, roads, land governance, tribal rights, and grassroots democracy. Instituted in 2010 by the Prime Point Foundation on the suggestion of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the awards recognise parliamentary excellence based on objective data.
Expressing gratitude, Ulaka said the honour reflects the collective effort of Committee Members, Lok Sabha Secretariat staff, and Ministries. He dedicated the award to the people of Koraput, acknowledging their trust and support.
The Committee’s reports have examined major issues including MGNREGA, PMGSY, DILRMP, and the empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions. It also reviewed the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), focusing on strengthening Gram Sabhas and ensuring genuine devolution under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
Ulaka noted that representing a rural and tribal constituency has deepened his understanding of community challenges, adding that parliamentary committees must rise above politics to make policies work better for people on the ground.
