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Vandse: Vandse Gram Panchayat, which has already earned recognition as a model village panchayat for effective solid waste management and cleanliness, has now been honoured at the national level as a healthy panchayat.

The panchayat has received the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya National Award from the Centre along with a cash prize of Rs 75 lakh.

For the past several years, Vandse Gram Panchayat has set a benchmark in waste management. Through its SLRM (Solid Liquid Resource Management) unit, wet and dry waste is scientifically segregated, and the products generated from the process are marketed, helping the panchayat earn revenue.

The achievement is also being attributed to the efforts of former gram panchayat president and current member Udayakumar Shetty, under whose leadership the panchayat has emerged as a rare model in the Panchayat Raj system.

The gram panchayat has achieved 100 per cent household waste collection for nine consecutive years.

It has also maintained scientific zero-waste disposal practices and has been continuously operating its solid waste management unit for the past eight years.

Among its public welfare initiatives, the panchayat has also been providing free mortuary box services.

The panchayat has implemented several programmes focused on public health and sanitation.

At the Vandse Primary Health Centre, special priority is given to maternity care, with a higher number of normal deliveries being conducted.

Vaccination is being provided to all pregnant women, new mothers and children. Medical support is also being extended to prevent anaemia among pregnant women and children.

The panchayat has reported no maternal deaths, no child deaths at birth, and no underweight children in the village.

It has also taken complete preventive measures against communicable diseases.

Other major initiatives include the distribution of Ayushman Bharat health cards, organisation of health camps, a 100-day TB-free gram panchayat campaign, and the Poshan Abhiyan.

Through the Niramaya Society, the panchayat is offering a helpline and free ambulance services.

A digital help registry for senior citizens and patients has also been established.

In collaboration with Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, a community palliative care and support centre has been set up.

The panchayat also holds a health and sanitation committee meeting every month.

The contribution of ASHA workers and ANMs has also been highlighted as a key factor behind the success of the health initiatives.

In schools, yoga training is being conducted, and the village has three well-equipped community toilets.

Former president Udayakumar Shetty said the gram panchayat has been working across multiple dimensions with a strong focus on public welfare.

He said the achievement was made possible through the support of villagers, the PDO, gram panchayat members and officials.

He expressed happiness that Vandse has now earned recognition at the national level as a healthy gram panchayat.