Google searches Gram Panchayats

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Google India in its efforts to support activities that drive community initiatives constituted the Google.org Gram Panchayat Puraskar (GGPP).

This award, as per a company statement, was developed to recognize the very important role that local government plays in providing services to citizens in rural India.  Panchayats were Mahatma Gandhi’s original vision for a free India — an India made up of thousands of “little Republics” where people meet their needs through self-reliance.

Since the Gram panchayats are the closest tier of government to the people of rural India, this competition provided an opportunity to publicize the good that panchayats are doing and create incentives for the successful development schemes for citizens.

One such exemplary Panchayat, Kirgur Panchayat in Virajpet Taluk in Kodagu district, was recognized for its innovative effort in the field of providing valuable education to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and the other Panchayat, Shiraguppi in Belgaum district, for its work in providing clean and safe drinking water to its residents.

Other innovative initiatives in the areas of sustainable agriculture, health care and sanitation, the provision of street lights, and the introduction of computer literacy among many other social causes also won the award

Google India employees from across locations including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon came together and contributed to make this initiative a success.

Karnataka winners include Kirgur Gram Panchayat in Virajpet Taluk in Kodagu district that was recognized for innovation in the area of Education; Nagarakere Gram Panchayat in Mandya district; Shiraguppi Gram Panchayat in Belgaum district for innovation in the area of water supply while Andhra Pradesh winners Include Gangadevipalle Gram Panchayat in Gesukonda district; Pandurangapuram Gram Panchayat in Nandyal district and Medepally Gram Panchayat in Mudigonda district.