Gumla, one of the most backward districts in Jharkhand, has been selected for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration that recognises exemplary work by civil servants across the country.

Gumla deputy commissioner Sushant Gaurav will get the award in the “holistic development through aspirational district programme – overall progress with special focus onsaturation approach” category.

This is the first time that a Jharkhand district has been selected for the award.

“Gumla was among the backward districts and there were manifold challenges in education, healthcare, malnutrition, superstition and agriculture. We made an honest effort and the result is very encouraging in the form of this award,” said Gaurav.

The award will be presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the celebration of Civil Services Day, 2023 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on April 21.

A letter informing about the award was sent by the secretary in the Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, V. Srinivas, to the Gumla deputy commissioner on Saturday.

Gumla district public relations officer, Sanjay Pandey, said several projects had been implemented in various spheres during the tenure of deputy commissioner Gaurav in the last one.

“Initiatives were taken under Millet (Ragi) Mission among farmers and efforts were made to eradicate anaemia and make the district tuberculosis-free. This apart, work was done to identify the disabled in remote parts of the district and get them linked with government schemes,” Pandey said.

Steps were taken to set up a dedicated 300-seat library for women, the first of its kind in the state. A 500-seat library named Birsa Munda Library was also opened in the district along with libraries in blocks and sub-divisions. There were several campaigns to improve infrastructurein schools, providebamboo training topromote the livelihood of artisans and opening of sports banks.

The district administration also linked the Tana Bhagat (a tribal sect in Jharkhand known for their adherence to the Gandhian way of life) with the state government schemes, engaged in the promotion of sports from district to panchayats, digitised panchayats, helped engage women self-help groups in multipurpose work, gave a new dimension to fisheries and adopted innovative measures in agriculture to boost the income offarmers.