People could be given cash for coming up with innovative ideas to improve services provided by the Northern Municipality in Bahrain.

The initiative is understood to be the first of its kind in Bahrain and aims to help officials connect with local communities and ensure money is spent wisely, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It is open to everyone and an independent committee will be tasked with evaluating ideas from the public.

Cash awards will then be determined based on their potential for success.

It will initially only apply to projects in the Northern Municipality, but is expected to be rolled out across by the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry.

The scheme was launched at the Bapco Club in Awali yesterday in the presence of Northern Governor Ali Al Asfoor, who was the guest of honour.

"Cash awards will be given as a way of appreciation to those who come up with innovative ideas that will improve work and services provided by us," said municipality director-general Yousif Al Ghatam.

"We are the first municipality and even the first government body to come up with such a scheme, which will help us fast-track projects that people want and we have not incorporated in our plans.

"We are not looking for ideas that would just benefit the community, but also increase our municipal revenue that in return would be used to fund future plans to develop areas."

Billboards advertising the project will go up on Bahrain's major highways on Sunday.

Meanwhile, top performing municipality staff were presented with awards and gifts by Al Ghatam and Al Asfoor.

GDN chief parliamentary, municipal and cabinet affairs reporter Mohammed Al A'ali was also honoured for his coverage of municipal events. - TradeArabia News Service