Local councils' terms set to expire after two-year hiatus of Kangathi Awards: Budget constraints cited as reason for cancellation!

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has stated that the annual Kangathi Award ceremony, held to recognize the performance of local councils, could not be conducted this year due to budget constraints.

The Kangathi Award is an annual accolade presented to the atoll and island councils that demonstrate the most significant improvement in their rankings on the Local Councils’ Performance Index compared to the previous year.

The Local Government Authority (LGA) held the Kangathi Awards on December 19, 2024. During the ceremony, awards for the year 2023 were presented.

However, the award ceremonies for the 2024 and 2025 Performance Index rankings have not yet been held.

When contacted for clarification during RaajjeTV’s "Fashaairu" program on Tuesday, an official from the Local Government Authority (LGA) stated that the delay in the project was likely due to budget constraints.

The project appears to have been stalled due to budget constraints, despite the work being largely completed. All results and necessary documentation are finalized; the only remaining step is for the relevant authorities to determine an official date for the announcement.

An official from the LGA

He stated that the Local Government Authority's (LGA) objective is to inform councils of their respective rankings, as this serves as an incentive to improve their performance. He further noted that the authority has consistently published these rankings in line with this policy.

Furthermore, he noted that awards for two consecutive years had been held simultaneously on previous occasions.

An LGA official stated that holding the awards now would not garner sufficient attention, as the current local councils are nearing the end of their terms.

However, some councils have raised questions regarding the reasons behind the failure to present the awards for two consecutive years.

Furthermore, while the Kangathi Awards remain pending, the Local Government Authority (LGA) has signed an agreement for the "Chaalu Dhivehi Raajje Award." This initiative was introduced under Public Service Media’s Maldives TV brand to celebrate island achievements at a national level. The award was established to recognize and honor community-led efforts across the islands to protect and preserve the environment. It also aims to acknowledge the work being done by local communities to promote and sustain the Maldives' rich traditions and cultural heritage.