India, Himachal Pradesh: award to boost sanitation campaign

The cleanest gram panchayat (local government body) at the block, district, divisional and state levels in the  north-western state of Himachal Pradesh (pop. 6 million) will be awarded cash prizes ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 1 million (US$ 2,300 to US$ 23,000) by the state government every year under the “Maharishi Valmiki Sampuran Swachhata Puraskar” reward scheme. The scheme has been introduced to motivate the state panchayati raj institutions in scaling up the Total Sanitation Campaign. Prizes will be awarded on 15 August each year.

Source: Meri News, 24 Jun 2008 and Govt of Himachal Pradesh, 23 Jun 2008