Thiruvananthapuram: Health minister Veena George has announced the Ardra Keralam Award 2022-23 for local self-govt bodies that have done excellent work in the field of health. Maneed grama panchayat, Perambra block panchayat, Ernakulam district panchayat, Ponnani municipality and Thiruvananthapuram corporation have won the awards. These local bodies will get a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh each.
The comprehensive health plan , which is being developed and implemented under the leadership of the local self-governing bodies with the participation of the department of health, has brought great changes in the field of health, the minister said while announcing the awards. In 2022-23, the local self-govt bodies had undertaken project activities worth Rs 1,144.61cr in the health sector.
The aim is to promote the activities of the local bodies in the health sector with the support of the health department, other related departments, and people’s representatives to bring in major changes in the health sector of the state, she added. A priority list of local self-govt institutions that could be considered for the award was prepared with the help of the Information Kerala Mission. The criterion for the award included the amount spent by the local bodies in the health sector, for palliative care programmes, kayakalpa, and other activities related to the health sector.
Apart from this, immunisation, ward-level activities and other epidemic prevention activities, innovative ideas implemented.