Ernakulam district panchayat bags Sashaktikaran award
KOCHI: Adding another golden feather to its cap, the Ernakulam district panchayat has bagged the Union Government’s prestigious Sashaktikaran award for 2015-16. The district panchayat was selected for the award considering the people-friendly measures implemented by it during the period. Earlier, it had won the Sashaktikaran award in 2013-14.
Carrying a cash prize of `50 lakh and a citation, the award will be handed over to Ernakulam district panchayat president Asha Sanil by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a function to be held in Lucknow on April 24.
Implementation of school infrastructure scheme, enhancement of facilities at the District Panchayat Hospital in Aluva, IT-enabled awareness campaigns, record-keeping and functioning of the office made the district panchayat eligible for the award.
The implementation of age-friendly offices and snehavahanam project also came in as advantages for the panchayat while being considered for the award.
“This is a proud moment for each person in the district panchayat as the award is the fruit of their hard work and dedication. This will give us the boost to implement more welfare projects in the district,” district panchayat president Asha Sanil told ‘Express’.
The Kollam district panchayat had received the award last year for implementing innovative development schemes.
“While other district panchayats concentrated on basic development, we focused on comprehensive development along with the uplift of the struggling people.
The Fight School, Hemophilia Centre, Snehavahanam project and age-friendly offices were part of it. It’s a proud moment for me as I am a part of the team,” said Eldhose Kunnappilly MLA who served as the Ernakulam district panchayat president during the period.