Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have won numerous accolades in the recently held Skoch Awards 2018 for their performance in different fields. Skoch, a think tank dealing with socio-economic issues, has been conferring these awards to Indian states since 2003 in areas of digital, financial and social inclusion.
The 2018 awards were conferred on Tuesday at the 52nd Skoch Summit held in New Delhi, where Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh was the chief guest.
While Telangana bagged a total of 14 awards in the fields of finance, energy, police, food and civil supply, information and communication technology, agriculture, urban development, municipality and district administration, Andhra Pradesh won 21 awards.
Last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was awarded as the Chief Minister of the Year by Skoch. This year, former CM of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje was conferred with Chief Minister of the Year.
“Efforts of the chief minister and state government were appreciated in implementing the prime minister's Digital India campaign for benefitting the common man,” the team said.
The Inclusive Double Digit Growth Model initiative, Real-time Monitoring of Ground Water Levels, Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, Neeru Chettu, Third Party Monitoring of Industrial Allotments, Andhra Pradesh Innovation Valley initiatives of Andhra Pradesh won awards under platinum category, the highest in the hierarchy.
Meanwhile, among initiatives that won in the gold category were Kaushal Godavari Skill Development and Employment Facilitation Project, Andhra Pradesh Water Resource Information & Management System, Muchumarri Lift Irrigation Scheme and Purushottapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The Telangana police bagged five awards under several categories. They were awarded for their efficiency in road safety, She Teams, Bharosa, CCTV surveillance and Dial-100 services. She Teams are anti-sexual harassment teams who nab offenders. Bharosa is a support centre for children and women, where victims of sexual abuse can approach them and seek help. While road safety and smart traffic management won an award under gold category, the rest were silver.