Bangalore: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat President KT Shailaja Bhat and Mangalore Taluk Panchayat President Dhanalakshmi Janardhan  as also the President of the Sullia Taluk Panchayat received the Nirmal Gram Puraskar national awards a from the hands of the State Governor HR Bharadwaj at the award presentation ceremony held in Bangalore on August 18, Saturday. Presidents of 103 Gram Panchayats from across the state, also received the award.

Among the zilla panchayats, Dakshina Kannada recorded cent per cent coverage in construction of latrines in all households and schools, and anganwadi centres. Mangalore and Sullia taluks have also recorded 100 per cent coverage.

Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa Congress MLA Roshan Baig, former minister, and RDPR Principal Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Director M Deepa were present.