Google.org awarding by Gram Panchayat Puraskar for the best innovations in local governance by Gram Panchayats in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states in India. Gram panchayats are local government bodies at the village level in India.

The Google.org Gram Panchayat Puraskar recognizes that innovations in governance are happening every day in villages across India. The main aim of this program is to encourage local governance to share ideas with one another to improve public service in villages.

The Best Gram Panchayat will get 5,00,000  Indian rupees along with the Gram Panchayat Puraskar award.

The contest will be open for applications from December 12, 2008 through January 25, 2009. Entries must be postmarked on or before January 25, 2009 to be considered.

Thanks Google for caring about India.