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First Nirmal Gram Puraskar distribution function will be held on 24.2.2005 in the Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhawan at 3.00 p.m. Nirmal Gram Puraskar is a national award instituted by Government of India to recognize the efforts made by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), individuals and organizations in promoting rural sanitation coverage. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India will be the chief guest in the award distribution ceremony and will give away the awards to the selected PRI functionaries.
40 PRIs from six States i.e. Tamil Nadu (13), Maharashtra (13), West Bengal (11), Tripua (1), Kerala (1) and Gujarat (1), will be given Rs.130 lakh as cash award to these PRIs. In addition, a memento and a certificate will also be given. The list of Nirmal Gram Puraskar winners is annexed.
In order to encourage involvement of community, PRIs, NGOs, etc. in sanitation promotion, Government of India had launched Nirmal Gram Puraskar, an incentive scheme for PRIs, individuals and organizations on 2nd October, 2003. As per this scheme, awards are to be given to PRIs which attain full sanitation coverage and become open defecation free. The award money varies according to the population of the concerned PRIs. For a Gram Panchayat, the award money varies from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh and for Panchayati Samiti it varies from Rs.10 – Rs.20 lakh and for Zilla Panchayat Rs.30 –Rs.50 lakh. In response to awards announcement, applications from 487 PRIs were received which were scrutinized in detail considering the criteria which included:
Ø The concerned PRI must be free from open defecation and all households should have access to sanitation facilities.
Ø All schools and Anganwadis should have toilet facilities which are in use
Ø In case of co-educational schools, separate toilet facilities for girls should be available.
Ø General cleanliness should prevail in the villages
The applications received were initially scrutinized in the Department and later on by independent monitoring agencies in the field. Based on the feed-back received from the independent evaluators, a National Committee on Nirmal Gram Puraskar headed by Secretary (DWS), sanctioned the awards to 38 Gram panchayats and one Block panchayat. In addition, recognizing the pioneering role played by Nandigram II Block of East Medinipur district in West Bengal for promoting rural sanitation with community participation, it was decided to give a special award to this block.
Giving high priority to rural sanitation promotion, Government of India has continuously increased its budgetary outlay for this programme which has increased from Rs.130 crore in 2001-02 to Rs.400 crore in the current financial year and is being further increased to Rs.700 crore in the next financial year. A decision has been taken to extend Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) projects in all districts of the country by next financial year so as to achieve a open defecation free India by the end of 11th Five Year Plan period. It is also proposed to ensure that all rural schools have water supply and sanitation facilities by the end of 10th Five Year Plan (2006-07)
Considering the fact that rural sanitation coverage has been low in India, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has accorded one of the highest priority to promote sanitation and thereby improving the quality of life in rural areas. In absence of proper sanitation facilities, people suffer from various diseases like diarrhea, polio, typhoid, etc. In order to tackle this problem, Government of India has launched Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) which is implemented taking district as a unit and with the objective to ensure full sanitation coverage in the entire rural pockets of the district by providing sanitation facilities. This programme has been under implementation in 452 districts of the country with a total outlay of Rs.4411 crore out of which share of Cental, State Governments and community share are Rs.2620 crore, Rs.979 crore and Rs.812 crore respectively. The most significant achievement is construction of 1.10 crore toilets in rural households which includes 90 lakh BPL households and 1.25 lakh toilet blocks in schools.
Sanitation promotion has been a priority of the Government of India and various Ministries are working together for this purpose. In addition to the fund given under Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), funds for various components of sanitation and hygiene promotion are also being spent under various programmes of Deptt. of Elementary Education, Deptt. of Women & child Development, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, etc. Their investment is in addition to TSC and for a synergised execution of the programmes, a Coordination Panel has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary (DWS) with representatives from Health, Education, Deptt. of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
In order to receive the award, 3-4 PRI functionaries from each PRI have been invited who will be arriving Delhi on 23rd February, 2005 and stay till 25th February. All their expenses on transportation, boarding and lodging will be borne by Government of India In addition, a local tour for them will be organized to visit the cultural heritage of Delhi.
In order to create awareness among the people about need for sanitation and hygiene, a national level and district level communication strategy has been developed by Ministry of Rural Development in association with UNICEF which will be launched on 24.2.2005 by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India. The communication strategy focuses on creating awareness on sanitation facility to generate the felt need and promoting hand-washing before eating and after defecation and also proper storage of drinking water.
Nirmal Gram Puraskar will be given for the first time to recognize the significant contribution made by PRIs in promoting rural sanitation and it is expected that it would give tremendous boost to the sanitation promotion in India and Government of India is committed to give all out support to the States and PRIs in this endeavour.
HB/AKS/CK
ANNEXURE
The Pioneers
(List of Award Winners of the first Nirmal Gram Puraskar)
SL. NO
STATE
GPs & BLOCK
PRI
DISTRICT
AWARD AMOUNT
1
West Bengal
GP
Chamrail
Howrah
2
2.
West Bengal
GP
Salepur-II
Hoogly
4
3
West Bengal
GP
Jaypur
Howrah
4
4.
West Bengal
GP
Purba Kilkapur
24 Parganas North
4
5
West Bengal
GP
Harinkhola II
Hoogly
4
6
West Bengal
GP
Narugram
Burdwan
4
7
West Bengal
GP
Sauri Katbar
Midnapur(W)
4
8
West Bengal
GP
Sabra
Midnapur(W)
4
9
West Bengal
GP
Norma
Midnapur(W)
4
10
West Bengal
GP
Panchberia
Midnapur(W)
4
11
Tripura
GP
Purba Miraza
South Tripura
2
12
Maharastra
GP
Yapawadi
Sangli
2
13
Maharastra
GP
Radewadi
Sangli
2
14
Maharastra
GP
Vajegaon
Sangli
2
15
Maharastra
GP
Dholewadi
Sangli
2
16
Maharastra
GP
Nayakalwadi
Sangli
2
17
Maharastra
GP
Malwadi
Sangli
2
18
Maharastra
GP
Sambarwadi
Sangli
2
19
Maharastra
GP
Taloshi
Satara
2
20
Maharastra
GP
Okhawadi
Satara
2
21.
Maharastra
GP
Dhamner
Satra
2
22.
Maharastra
GP
Gureghar
Satara
2
23.
Maharastra
GP
Pangari
Satara
2
24.
Maharastra
GP
Walangwadi
Satara
2
25.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Kankkampalayam
Coimbator
4
26.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Pottaiyandi Puram
Coimbator
2
27.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Seelkkampatti
Coimbator
2
28.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Kathirampatti
Erode
2
29.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Pitchivilai
Thothukkudi
2
30.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Chinnanoor
Salem
2
31.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Muthugoundenipalayam
Erode
4
32.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Arumboor
Ramanathapuram
2
33.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Pandikanmai
Ramanathapuram
2
34.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Thamaraikulum
Ramanathapuram
2
35.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Nalukottai
Sivagangai
2
36.
Tamil Nadu
GP
Kattuputhur
Vellore
2
37
Kerala
GP
Pillikot
Kasargod
4
38.
Gujrat
GP
Rajsamadhiyala
Rajkot
2
39.
Tamil Nadu
Block
Melpuram
Kanya Kumari
20
40.
West Bengal
Block
Nandigram II*
East Medinipur District
10
Total
130
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