Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the fifth Civil Service Day today. He will also give away the 'PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration’ for the year 2008-09. Nine outstanding initiatives in three categories – individual, group and organization – have been selected for the award. Of these the ones in the individual category are: (i) Removal of Encroachments of Structures of Different Religions – Maintaining of Communal Harmony (Madhya Pradesh) (ii) Involvement of Community under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Naxalite Affected Areas (Madhya Pradesh) (iii) Making medicines affordable(Rajasthan) (iv) River Linking Project at Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and (v) Cervical Cancer Screening Evolving a new methodology – A life saving initiative of Chennai Corporation, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

In the group category the award will be given to (i) Implementation of the ST and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Madhya Pradesh), (ii) Computerization of Paddy Procurement and Public Distribution System (Chattisgarh) and (iii) Integrated Tax Payer Data Management System – A Data Mining Tool, CBDT, Government of India. Project Arrow – Transforming India Post, Government of India bags the award in the organization category.

Under this scheme of awards instituted in 2006, all officers of Central and State Governments individually or as group or as organization are eligible. The award includes a medal, scroll and a cash amount of Rs. 1 lakh. In case of a group, the total award money is Rs. 5 lakh subject to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh per person. For an organization this is limited to Rs. 5 lakh.

An exhibition showcasing the various award winning initiatives will be put up. Books written by the Civil Servants during the last five years will also be displayed.

This Day is observed by all Civil Services to rededicate and recommit themselves to the cause of the people. It provides a unique opportunity for introspection as also chalking out future strategies to deal with the challenges being posed by the changing times.
Organization

Project Arrow-Transforming India Post, Government of India

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