Karnataka selected for e-Puraskar award

The State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RD&PR) department has bagged the e-Puraskar award for the year 2014-15.

The award is conferred by the Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj (MoPR), after assessing top performing States in facilitating the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for empowerment of panchayats. The selection of Karnataka for the award has been communicated to the State government by the Ministry in its letter on February 10.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil told the media in Bengaluru on Tuesday that last year too the department has won the first prize for ‘devolution of funds, functionaries and functions’, which carried a cash reward of Rs two crore. The ministry was yet to announce the cash award for this year, he said.

The MoPR has been conferring e-Puraskars to bring in transparency, efficiency and accountability in the functioning of panchayats through the use of ICT.