Rural Development Department, Government of Sikkim, bagged 8 National Awards in different categories in the National Award Ceremony organized by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India on 19 December 2019 at New Delhi.

The department received the following National Awards:

• Overall best performance during 2018-19 in respect of training programmes and participants for hilly states was awarded to State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD).

• The award for Best overall performance in terms of quality of roads inspected by NQMs (Weighted Average of the Quality Grading for ongoing, completed and maintenance works during the year 2018-19 for North East and Himalayan State was given to to Sikkim Rural Roads Development Agency.

• Sikkim bagged two Individual Award for Field Functionaries for excellent work under PMAY-G. Under the Gram Panchayat category – the Award was conferred to Bishnu Lall Thapa, Ward Panchayat, Geyzing Omchung GPU while under Village Development Officer / Functionaries, the award was conferred to Prakash Subba, District Programme Officer, West District

•  Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Sikkim once again received 4 National Awards with 3 in the State level Category and one under Gram Panchayat Category.

•  In The State category the State received the award for best performance in Transparency and Accountability and also for Convergence and Livelihood Augmentation. The State also received the best performing State award for mplementation of the Geo-MGNREGA initiatives.

• The best performing Gram panchayat Award – was conferred to Parengoan Gram Panchyat, of Mangalbarey block, West Sikkim.

• In addition to the above 8 National Awards, the Sponsor Bank – State Bank of India – Sikkim also received the National Award for Timely wage payment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and the Award.