August 30, 2021: The Karnataka state departments of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), and Health and Family Welfare have joined in partnership with KHPT, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to launch the Graama Panchayath Arogya Amrutha Abhiyaana (GPAAA), a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country to involve Gram Panchayats more proactively in addressing issues of public health.

The GPAAA was launched by Shri K S Eshwarappa, Minister, RDPR at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on August 30.  Shri K S Eshwarappa handed over Gram Panchayat kit to four Gram Panchayat groups and released the IEC materials with dignitaries on the dais. The event was attended by 32 CEOs of Zilla Panchayaths across the state, as well as senior officials of the Government of Karnataka, including Shri L K Atheeq, Principal Secretary, RDPR.

The GPAAA integrates the COVID Muktha Graama Panchayath (COVID-free Gram Panchayats) and Kshaya Muktha Graama Panchayath (TB-free Gram Panchayat) campaigns with the aim of leveraging the strengths of Panchayats to make villages TB and COVID-free. As a long-term goal, they will also address vulnerabilities including Non-communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal, and child health issues, elimination of child marriages, and malnutrition, among others.

More information on the GPAAA can be accessed here, and a short video on the initiative may be accessed here.