Phulbani: Bringing laurels to Odisha, Kandhamal district has bagged the prestigious SKOCH Award (Silver) for 2020 under aspirational district category.
Collector Brunda D Saturday congratulated the district administration team for the achievement.
The tribal-dominated district has won the prestigious award for implementation of innovative project that uses delivery vehicles, bike ambulance and Janani Auto to encourage childbirth at hospitals.
All the vehicles used in this project are used to carry pregnant women from remote locations to the nearest hospitals. Implementation of this project has resulted in reduced maternal and infant mortality rates in the district.
Kandhamal, once infamous for having highest number of childbirths at home, is now witnessing a healthy shift and moving towards institutional delivery. The district now holds the top position in terms of institutional childbirths.
SKOCH award, instituted in 2003, recognises people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.
In 2019, Kandhamal district had also won the SKOCH award for Mission 171 project launched by the district horticulture department.
PNN