National recognition for K-SMART, Digi Kerala and Palliative Care; Proud, says MB Rajesh

Thiruvananthapuram: K-SMART, which has brought local self-government services to citizens' fingertips, Digi Kerala, aimed at achieving complete digital literacy, and Kerala’s palliative care programme have received national recognition from the Centre.

All three initiatives, implemented during the previous Left government, have been featured as best-practice models in a report published by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The report, a compilation of outstanding initiatives from states and Union Territories in 2026 aimed at strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions, highlights these projects in detail.

K-SMART has been recognised as a major technological advancement for making public services in local bodies transparent, paperless and faster. Digi Kerala has been acknowledged as an exemplary model of grassroots digital empowerment.

The palliative care programme has also emerged as a national model for providing doorstep care and support to vulnerable and marginalised individuals through annual projects undertaken by local self-government institutions.

Former Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh said he was proud that these initiatives had received national recognition.