Five initiatives bag PM's excellence awards

Turnaround of a sick bridge construction undertaking in Bihar and an educational centre for disabled children in Maharashtra were among five initiatives that were on Thursday honoured with the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.

Pratyaya Amrit, chairman of Patna-based Rajya Pul Nirmal Nigam Limited received the award from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his efforts to turn the sick company into a Rs 80 crore profit making unit in the last fiscal.

Besides completing pending bridges by December 2008 and pulling the loss-making corporation out of debt, it diversified into new sectors such as roads and building construction, irrigation projects, beautification of the state capital and Patna Road Project.

The award for "Success story of Malkapur 24x7 water supply scheme" in Maharashtra was shared by four persons and the award for the education and training centre for children with hearing impairment, also in Maharashtra, was given to two persons.

The Commissionerate of Health, Medical Services and Medical Education in Gujarat bagged the award for its "sickle cell anemia control programme". The Department of Environment, Science and Technology in Himachal Pradesh was given the award for "sustainable plastic waste management".

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension V Narayanasamy and Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar were also present.