Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the fifth Civil Service Day here on Wednesday and will give awards for excellence in public administration for the year 2008-09, according to a government statement.

The day, observed by all civil services to rededicate and recommit themselves to the cause of the people, will showcase the award winning initiatives and books written during the last five years by the civil servants. A total of nine awards divided in three categories – individual, group and organisation – have been selected.

The awards in the individual category are: (i) Removal of encroachments of structures of different religions – maintaining of communal harmony (Madhya Pradesh) (ii) Involvement of community under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Naxalite affected areas (Madhya Pradesh) (iii) Making medicines affordable (Rajasthan) (iv) River linking project at Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and (v) Cervical cancer screening evolving a new methodology – a life saving initiative of Chennai Corporation, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

In the group category the award will be given to (i) Implementation of the ST and other traditional forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Madhya Pradesh), (ii) Computerization of paddy procurement and public distribution system (Chattisgarh) and (iii) Integrated tax payer data management system – a data mining tool, CBDT, Government of India.

Project Arrow – Transforming India Post, Government of India bags the award in the organisation category. Madhya Pradesh is taking home three awards, two from the individual category and one for the group effort. These awards were started in 2006 where officers of central and state governments are rewarded for their efforts either as individuals or as a group or an organisation. The award includes a medal, scroll and a cash amount of Rs. 1 lakh for individuals. In case of a group, the total award money is Rs. 5 lakh subject to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh per person. For an organisation this is limited to Rs. 5 lakh.