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, was conferred the award in the finalist category.