Janwani, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) arm of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), will henceforth honour every year local government officials for better governance, an NGO for social impact, and ideal wards in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal areas.

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The process of selection has begun and the awards will be presented at the beginning of next year, announced well-known economist Vijay Kelkar on Sunday. The awards were announced by Janwani chairman BG Deshmukh, director Kishori Gadre and Janwani board member Ravi Pandit.

Under the good governance award, a local government official who has framed and implemented policies for better governance, improved functioning of government departments and encouraged people's participation will be chosen.

Any ward in Pune or Pimpri-Chinchwad or the three cantonment areas in Pune displaying high levels of cleanliness, efficient solid waste management and adequate open spaces would be honoured. Social impact awards would be given to any local NGO, or a chapter of state or national NGO, which brings about changes at the policy level and contributes to sustainable urban development.

Janwani also launched its new website, www.janwani.org, on the occasion. Deshmukh said the new website is more interactive and user-friendly.

Janwani director Kishori Gadre noted that 'Nirmal Katraj, Dekhane Katraj', the waste management project of Janwani, has been yielding impressive results and more than 80% households in the area are connected to the project and segregating waste.

Under this project, garbage is collected and processed within the ward. Janwani will also try to get ISO certification for the project. Up to 8,500 households and 1,500 commercial establishments, generating 8.5 tonnes of garbage every day, are covered under the project. Earlier only 15% of households segregated waste. "We have also found takers for plastic waste, which was difficult to do earlier," said Gadre.