[Urbanstudy] Fwd: Google.org Launches Gram Panchayat Puraskar in India

[lalitha kamath]

FYI




Google.org's
Inform and Empower Initiative is proud to announce the launch of the Gram
Panchayat Puraskar to reward the best innovations in local governance by Gram
Panchayats in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, India.
This initiative is the first of its kind by Google.org and gives the
opportunity for local governments in India to showcase the innovative
work in their villages, and emerge as the star innovators of their respective
states.  
Entries
for the competition will be evaluated on the basis of criterion such as empowerment,
innovation and scale. The innovation needs to be in the
context of one of the following six areas - education, health and nutrition,
water supply, rural infrastructure, rural electrification, resource
mobilization - going above and beyond the call of duty.  
The
Gram Panchayat will have to demonstrate the following: 
	* Inclusion of all social and income groups in village decision-making or planning. 
	* Sharing information with villagers such as Gram Sabha dates, proceedings and action items; record maintenance; Gram Panchayat plan 
	* Community tracking and monitoring of the budgets and quality of the programs 
	* Working with other programs to reach development objectives  
The
competition spans 27,942 villages in 49 districts across the states of
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.  Google.org will be accepting applications
from December 12, 2008 through January 25, 2009 and will announce finalists and
winners in March/April of 2009.  Winning Gram Panchayats will receive
INR 500,000 (approximately $10,000) to continue to do good in their
communities. 
The
launch of the Gram Panchayat Puraskar gives us the opportunity to thank you,
our friends and partners, for your continued support.  Together, we hope
that we can continue to showcase the successes of "informed and
empowered" communities across the world.  Please forward this email
widely and help us encourage participation in this competition.
Please
visit our website at www.google.org/ggpp.html for
more information.  
Thank
you,  
The
Google.org Inform and Empower team


      
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