The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs.2,08,25000/- (Rs. two crore eight lakh and twenty five thousand only) as cash award to 189 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Gujarat for exemplary performance under the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) program for the financial year 2010-11. The funds would be disbursed through State Water and Sanitation Mission, Gujarat.

The release constitutes 85 per cent of the total award money worth Rs. 2.45 crores due to be released to the States for the year 2010-11. Remaining amount of 15 per cent of the award money shall be released after the State submits Statement of Utilization of the money released for NGP during the previous year and disbursement of at least 50 per cent of the eligible award money to the Gram Panchayats during the year 2010-11.

In addition, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has released funds worth Rs. 17,28,500/- (Rs. Twenty seven lakh and twenty eight thousand five hundred only) to State Water and Sanitation Mission, Gujarat for organizing the function at the state level to honour the 189 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Gujarat who have been awarded NGP during the year 2010-11.

Nirmal Gram Puraskar is a comprehensive incentive based program to recognize the efforts in terms of cash awards for fully covered PRIs and those individuals and institutions who have contributed significantly in ensuring full sanitation coverage in their area of operation. The project is being implemented in rural areas taking district as a unit of implementation.