XPost: soc.culture.indian, sci.physics, alt.politics.republican   
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   From: aka@hotmail.com   
      
   this should re-assure all potential white foreign visitors to india who have   
   been putting off their spiritual journey to india for concern about lack of   
   toilets in india. well, at least they will be ok in gujarat if not all of   
   india yet. the question i have is if india can get this award, why not usa   
   which has 10 times more toilets than people.   
      
   UN honour for Gujarat government body   
   Water and Sanitation Management Organization of Gujarat has been conferred   
   the 2009 Public Service Award by the United Nations for 'fostering   
   participation in policy-making decisions through innovative mechanisms' in   
   the field of 'institutionalisation of community management' and users' level   
   participation in the drinking water supply.   
      
   The award was given away on June 23 -- designated by the General Assembly as   
   the UN Public Service Day -- at an impressive ceremony at the UN   
   headquarters in New York.   
      
   WASMO was among a total of 12 public organisations from various countries --   
   eight in the 'Winners' category and four in 'Finalist' category' -- that   
   were honoured.   
      
   The awards are a prestigious international recognition for excellence. Since   
   its institution in 2003, a number of public organisations from India have   
   been conferred the Award in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.   
      
   WASMO's programme involved improving access to water in rural areas by   
   engaging citizens in water management, developed by the organisation in   
   2002. The programme has been also instrumental in playing a key role in   
   achieving the Millennium Development Goals.   
      
   'This year's winners and finalists show that public services can be   
   delivered more efficiently, effectively and equitably all over the world,'   
   Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the awards ceremony.   
      
   He said the ingredients are simple -- commitment, hard work, innovation,   
   talent and technological know-how.   
      
   'Combined, they make a powerful recipe. And together, these women and men   
   make vital contributions to our efforts to build a better world for all,' he   
   said.   
      
   Ban said the UN has long recognized that effective governance and efficient   
   public administration are central to the global development agenda, and   
   particularly in achieving the MDGs -- the set of anti-poverty targets world   
   leaders have pledged to try to achieve by 2015.   
      
   On behalf of WASMO, the award was received by V S Gadhavi, secretary, water   
   supply, Government of Gujarat. Other member of the delegation included   
   Jaipal Singh, additional secretary and chief executive officer, WASMO.   
      
   In a brief statement at the ceremony, Gadhavi said the Gujarat government's   
   'out of box' initiative, has been able to create the enabling environment   
   for strong community engagement and almost 75 per cent of the total villages   
   of Gujarat have embraced the community-led development in WATSAN sector, one   
   of the major agenda of the MDG.   
      
   He said that building working partnerships with reputed NGOs, other sector   
   players and community has given effective institutional mechanisms for   
   development besides a providing a great learning experience about the   
   capacity of community led governance at local levels.   
      
   'We have been able to achieve a paradigm shift in role of governance form   
   'provider to facilitator' wherein community has demonstrated the philosophy   
   that 'users are the best managers'.   
      
   He said that the issues of ownership and inclusion 'are prudently resolved'   
   in the village meeting and that the initiative has a great impact on the   
   overall Human Development Index in the state.   
      
   'In a water-scarce state like Gujarat, the governance model in the form of   
   WASMO has tried to bring in sustainability for WATSAN sector.'   
      
   In 2008, Programme of Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services,   
   Nagaland, was conferred the award in the winners category and District   
   Lokvani Society, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh [ Images ], was conferred the award   
   in the finalist category.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)