A government programme aimed at empowering people run by the north-east Indian state of Nagaland has won the coveted United Nations Award for Public Service from Asia and the Pacific region for 'fostering participation in policy making through innovative mechanism'.

Nagaland's Programme of Communitization of Public Institutions and Services has helped in moving the state towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, the citations on the award said.

Former Nagaland chief secretary Raghaw Sharan Pandey, chief secretary Lalhuma and secretary V Sakhrie accepted the award comprising a trophy and certificate on behalf of Nagaland on Monday.

District Lokvani Society of Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh was among the finalists in the 'improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the public service'.

Counsellor at the Indian UN Mission B N Reddy accepted the commendation certificate on behalf of the Lokvani Society.

Organisations from 12 countries were chosen for awards in three categories from several hundred nominations received by the United Nations from across the world.

The award is considered as the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide.

Addressing the winners and diplomats, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro expressed the hope that the award would inspire governments around the world to step up their efforts to deliver vital basic services and improve the daily lives of their people.

"Governments around the world need to break with 'business as usual' and engage in ever more innovative ways of delivering public services and of organising the way they function," Migiro said.

While the private sector and civil society play a vital role in development, it is governments that have the 'main role to steer development efforts and provide the necessary conditions for a stable, peaceful and prosperous society,' she added.

"It is governments that can ensure and facilitate access to quality services, such as health, education, sanitation facilities and water."

However, she said governments are facing a number of challenges, including the current food crisis, climate change and natural disasters, and are being challenged to do more with less and be more transparent and accountable. That is why the work of public institutions, such as this year's winners, is so important, the deputy secretary-general noted.

"Your exemplary initiatives should inspire all governments around the world at all levels to strive for excellence in public service," Migiro added.

The award was established in 2003 to reward excellence and promote professionalism in the public sector.

This year's winners include Australia's Job Access; Brazil's [Images] Projeto Oficina-Escola de Artes e Ofcios de Santana de Parnaba; Jordan's Family Planning; Rwanda's Common Development Fund and SADAD Payment System of Saudi Arabia.

Singapore's Home Ownership Programme; South Africa's Transnet-Phelophepa Health Care Train; Spain's Directorate General for Citizen Participation; Sweden's Library 2007; Tunisia's Orientation universitaire en ligne; and Juvenile Delinquency Domestic Violence and Family Violence Court of the United States were also awarded.