The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched the DAANVEER initiative, a people-led computer crowdsourcing program that enables individuals and organizations to donate desktop computers directly to verified Gram Panchayats. This initiative complements infrastructure support provided under government programs including the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and aims to harness voluntary public participation to strengthen digital governance and service delivery at the grassroots level.
The donation process operates through the Meri Panchayat App, where citizens can view Gram Panchayats verified by state governments that require desktop computers. Donors can choose to support their own or any other eligible Gram Panchayat directly from their phone. When clicking "Donate Computer," donors are securely redirected to DigiHaat, an ONDC-enabled digital marketplace, without needing separate registration. The selected Panchayat's delivery address and recipient details are automatically populated, eliminating manual data entry.
Donors can choose from standardized computer bundles aligned with prescribed technical specifications, make digital payments, and track the order through confirmation, dispatch, delivery, and acknowledgement stages. Following acknowledgement by the Gram Panchayat Secretary, the donor receives a digitally generated Certificate of Appreciation. The entire donation journey from order placement to delivery can be tracked in real time, ensuring complete transparency.
The initiative aims to strengthen Gram Panchayats' capacity to effectively use digital governance platforms for planning, financial management, record-keeping, and citizen service delivery. It offers citizens living away from their native villages, including the Indian diaspora, philanthropic organizations, and CSR partners, a credible avenue to contribute to grassroots digital infrastructure. As of August 27, 2026, the initiative has already received 75 donations, marking growing public acceptance. With more states onboarding eligible Gram Panchayats, DAANVEER has the potential to evolve into a nationwide movement for stronger and digitally empowered Panchayats.