Govt changes criteria for awarding Nirmal Gram Puraskar

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development has changed the criteria for awarding the Nirmal Gram Puraskar to Gram Panchayats and revised the slabs for classification of population and amount of award money.

Under the revised criteria, Gram Panchayats having less than 1000 people will receive Rs. 50,000/- as award money. Gram Panchayats having a population of 1000 or more but less than 2000 will receive Rs one lakh while those having 2000 or more but less than 5000 will receive Rs. two lakh as award money.

Gram Panchayats having a population of 5000 or more but less than 10,000 will be entitled to Rs. four lakh while those with more than 10,000 would be given Rs. five lakh as award money, an official release said here today.

However, there is no change in the award scheme for other Panchayati Raj Institutions and individual organisations who play a key role in elimination of practice of open defecation and promote sanitation and hygiene. Under the existing guidelines, Gram Panchayats with population up to 5000 are eligible for an award money of Rs. two lakh and those with more than 5000 would receive Rs. four lakh.

The change has been effected in view of the suggestions made at the Conference of State Ministers for Drinking Water and Sanitation held early this year. Many state Governments had suggested for change in existing guidelines in respect of population classification in Gram Panchayats.

It was stated that States where Panchayats are having less population were receiving more money compared to States with larger population in each Panchayat. Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh had assured the Ministers concerned that their suggestions would be considered and anomalies, if any, removed.

The Ministry of Rural Development has launched Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in 560 districts across the country to promote sanitation and hygiene. The scheme of giving Nirmal Gram Puraskars by the President, for achieving 100 per cent open defecation free environment, has generated enthusiasm among the PRIs in promoting full sanitation coverage in rural areas. Since last year's Nirmal Gram Puraskar has been awarded to 809 Panchayati Raj Institutions.

UNI AJ AK BS1506