LUCKNOW, Sept. 10 -- The Uttar Pradesh government will, for the first time, confer a Chief Minister's Special Award carrying Rs.50 lakh each on 10 gram panchayats for outstanding work in specific areas, director, panchayati raj, Amit Singh said on Wednesday. The award aims to promote sustainable and comprehensive village development and encourage healthy competition among gram panchayats, he said. The 10 categories include door-to-door waste collection, liquid waste management, own-source revenue generation, plastic-free initiatives, public services through Common Service Centres, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, exemplary work under 'Mera Talab Meri Yojana', women's leadership and participation, services through Aadhaar centres and promotion of organic farming. Eligible gram panchayats can apply online from September 15 to 30 through the designated portal. The award will supplement the existing CM Panchayat Award scheme, under which five gram panchayats from each district (375 across the state) are honoured annually. The initiative aims to promote innovation, good governance, cleanliness, environmental conservation, women's participation, digital services and sustainable agriculture at the grassroots level....