Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah awarded 18 District Collectors from across the country on Tuesday acknowledging their contribution to good governance at the district as well as grassroots levels. Odisha’s Vishal Singh and Chanchal Rana were among the 18 District Collectors who received the ‘Indian Express Excellence In Governance Award’ on the occasion.
Vishal Singh is the District Collector-cum-District Magistrate of Malkangiri and he was declared the Best District Magistrate for Excellence in Governance in the Agriculture category for successfully implementing a micro-irrigation project in six villages in Malkangiri district. The micro-irrigation project has not only been a highly successful and innovative initiative but it was implemented in the remote Malkangiri villages affected by Maoist terror.
The micro-irrigation project launched by District Collector Vishal Singh benefitted more than 300 farmers. To date, these farmers grew on only one crop, but the innovative micro-irrigation project has allowed them to grow a second crop and increase their household income by 60 per cent.
Sudhanshu Mohanty, Joint Resident Commissioner, Government of Odisha, received the award on behalf of Singh.
Chanchal Rana, Collector-cum-District Magistrate of Bolangir, won the Indian Express Excellence in Governance Award in the best District Magistrate in India category. The award acknowledges Rana’s efforts to implement “Gender and Inclusion”. The District Collector of Bolangir was honoured for his endeavour to successfully implement the Sweekruti Scheme which aims to offer dignity, inclusion and livelihood to the transgender community and avail the members of the community of all social security schemes.
