HP to give awards to panchayats for cleanliness

Shimla, Jun 23 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to institute 'Maharishi Valmiki Sampuran Swachhata Puraskar' to motivate the state panchayati raj institutions in scaling up the Total Sanitation Campaign.

Rural Development Secretary SK Baldi today said that the cleanest gram panchayat at the block, district, divisional and state levels would be awarded by the state government every year.

He said all those gram panchayats which become open defecation free and having provisions of solid waste disposal for both individuals and communities, waste water disposal for both households and communities, water harvesting, drought amelioration efforts, maintenance of traditional water sources, innovation in technology both for households and communities, home management-household hygiene and cleanliness, aesthetic sense in the community landscaping and plantation and school sanitation will be eligible to compete for the award.

He said that one cleanest gram panchayat would be awarded a cash prize of Rs one lakh in one block and added that district level award of Rs 3 lakh would be given to one cleanest gram panchayat for each district with less than 300 gram panchayats whereas the award would be given to two gram panchayats for each district with more than 300 gram panchayats.

He further said that one cleanest panchayat at each divisional and state levels would be awarded Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively. This award would be conferred upon the selected gram panchayats on August 15, 2008.

UNI XC PS BP1621