The Sreekrishnapuram grama panchayat celebrates the birth of every girl child and it is the duty of the ward member concerned to visit the baby and her mother with gift hampers soon after reporting of each birth.
Adjudged the best grama panchayat in the State for the second consecutive term, the panchayat has also devised a unique scheme — Kanmani — to ensure the welfare and well being of girls and their mothers. The panchayat is also taking special care to ensure better education to all the girls coming under its jurisdiction.
“In general, we wish to term Sreekrishnapuram as a child- friendly panchayat. We are regularly holding special grama sabha meetings of students to get their vision on development and welfare. Two student representatives are there in the project implementation working group of the panchayat,” said C.N. Shaju Sankar, panchayat president.
“This is the second time that we are winning the prestigious Swaraj Trophy for the best grama panchayat. Last time, the honour was shared with the Chembilode panchayat in Kannur district,” he said.
Interestingly, Sreekrishnapuram has been winning the price at the district level for the last 14 years. While rules demand the implementation of at least six novel projects for winning the award, the panchayat has successfully implemented 42 innovative projects. In areas where there rules prevent splurging of government funds, the panchayat has locally mobilised funds and resources to implement unique projects. The panchayat’s health care centre won the ISO certification recently.
As part of the palliative care project, buckets are kept in all government offices and schools, prompting the public and students to contribute generously for the welfare of terminally ill patients. Palliative care is made available free of charge.
The panchayat is organising sightseeing trips for cancer patients every two months. For the educated youngsters, the panchayat is running Civil Services and PSC examination coaching centres. It is also imparting training for government employees to appear for department-level tests. Job fairs are being organised regularly. Its registry on SC/ST people and the differently abled help the panchayat easily identify the needy and disburse funds quickly whenever the need arises.
Those who are below the age of 15 get free football training. The panchayat is also holding workshops for those interested in creative writing. “We are also keen on money management. During the last fiscal, we effectively utilised 97% of the Plan funds. Tax collection is cent percent for the last 48 years. We are also fully utilising the maintenance grant for the last few years,” said panchayat secretary M.C. Kunhahammed Kutty.
