PM to Honour Babus for Excellence in Implementing Key Schemes

Select bureaucrats will get the Prime Minister's awards on April 21, observed as Civil Services' Day.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give away awards to bureaucrats from both the Centre and states for excellence in implementing NDA government's priority programmes like 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana'.

Select bureaucrats will get the Prime Minister's awards on April 21, observed as Civil Services' Day, for their contribution to effective implementation of the government's key initiatives.

The award, which carries a citation and cash prize, is to recognise and reward the extraordinary and innovative works done by officers of the central and state governments.

This is for the first time a new category of "excellence in implementing a priority programme" has been added to the PM's awards. The theme of 10th Civil Services Day is "Transforming India--Reform to Transform".

"Modi will confer awards to civil servants for excellence in implementation of priority programmes of the government of India namely Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY), Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Swachh Vidyalaya and Soil Health Card Scheme," a press release issued today by Ministry of Personnel said.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is to bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, by promoting cleanliness, hygiene and eliminating open defecation. Whereas, Swachh Vidyalaya mission is aimed at ensuring separate toilets in every school for boys and girls. The objective of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is to provide weaker sections and low income groups access to various financial services like savings bank account, need based credit, remittances facility, insurance and pension.

The Soil Health Card scheme is meant to give each farmer the soil nutrient status of his holding and advise him on the dosage of fertilisers, besides information on soil modification for long term improved soil health.