UN award for Guj sanitation mgmt body

Gujarat's Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (Wasmo) has received the United Nations Public Service Award 2009 for encouraging community involvement in the field of drinking water supply.

The prestigious international recognition of excellence for an Indian organisation working in the field of public service was received by VS Gadhvi, state water supply and water resources secretary.
Gadhavi told DNA, “It is a matter of great pride for us as our efforts have been recognised by an international body. Wasmo was chosen from among a number of agencies working in this field across the country.”

Wasmo was conferred the award for 'Fostering Participation in Policy-Making Decisions Through Innovative Mechanisms' in the field of 'institutionalisation of community management and user's level participation in the drinking water supply.'

The programme involved improving people's access to water in rural areas by engaging citizens in water management, which was developed by the organisation in 2002. This programme has also been instrumental in playing a key role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Receiving the award, Gadhvi said that at the core of Wasmo has been the idea of 'public-private partnership' paradigm for a citizen-centric, efficient public service mechanism. Since the institution of the award in 2003, various public organisations from India have been conferred the award in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
 With inputs from Agencies