Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh became the first in India to collect panchayat property tax online through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal. The service, launched at Sankara Gram Panchayat in Nagri block, uses UPI-based payments so residents can pay from home, cutting paperwork and delays. It has been extended to nearly 400 gram panchayats in the district and may be rolled out statewide, improving transparency, revenue collection and financial self-reliance of panchayats.