By?Swathi Attavar
Public policy pundits will tell you that as a matter of habit, even an idea whose time has come, more often than not, has to slog its way through the bureaucratic red tape. While the idea of governance must be to bridge the gaps and build an easy interface between people and systems, government procedures are infamous for being bulky, burdensome and time-consuming. Whether it be filing for income-tax returns, or using public transport, government services ought to inspire people?s trust and confidence.
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Karnataka?s use of information and communication technology for delivering public services has become widely popular for its efficiency, transparency and convenience.[/su_pullquote]
When it comes to public services, the real test of successful delivery lies in fulfilling people?s real expectations. Karnataka?s use of information and communication technology for delivering public services has become widely popular for its efficiency, transparency and convenience. Through the adoption of modern technology, Karnataka’s government has introduced path-breaking changes in the way government services are popularly perceived.
The Mobile One application is the most prominent case in point. Mobile One is India’s first M-governance model offering more than 4,000 services accessible through an App on smartphones. At the time of its launch, President Pranab Mukherjee had said that this unique initiative signals a new era in governance. Since response monitoring and effective implementation are core features of good-governance, digital technology which creates wider access and greater impact becomes an almost disruptive governance tool.
This may seem like the logical next step in terms of a technology upgrade, but in terms of the functioning of government processes, the change is no less than a giant leap. Quick and easy payment of bills and taxes, booking of tickets and applying for licenses, all significantly improves the quality of life of citizens. Technology coupled with governance acts as a positive enabling mechanism in bridging unfair social disparities created by differential access.
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A similar initiative was introduced in the agriculture marketing framework. The initiative called Rashtriya e-Market Services Limited (ReMS) created a real-time electronic auctioning platform to enable farmers, traders, processors, exporters and importers to buy and sell agricultural commodities in a transparent manner. The platform has accommodated lakhs of farmers, traders and commission agents for all the 92 regulated commodities.
The single licensing system and better price discovery enabled by the ReMS has brought ease of business, security and transparency to farmers, the biggest beneficiaries of the platform.
In addition, an array of positive practices has been kick-started. Price comparison through real time monitoring of prices across the state, better practices in operations through standardization in weighing, pricing, billing and better quality maintenance of the produce are a few among them. In fact, Karnataka?s success in online agricultural marketing inspired the recent launch of the National Agricultural Market to electronically link various ‘mandis’ in the country.
In the era of Governance 3.0, the government?s responsibility in a developing economy has expanded from being just a regulator to becoming an enabler. It has the all-important task of providing better logistics and infrastructure facilities to the farmers, efficient services to the citizens and a conducive investment environment for business.
The Karnataka government has scripted another big governance initiative in the field of public transport though the ITS. ?ITS or the Intelligent Transport System, uses the GPS-based Vehicle Tracking System (VTU), Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM), Passenger Information System (PIS) and a mobile application, to make travel easier for commuters. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation?s ?Intelligent Transport System? tracks all city buses and makes the information on the travel schedule available to the commuters through 35 Passenger Information displays installed in 11 major bus stands The app gives details on timetable, route information and fare of the buses.
It is not the presence of institutional structures, but their effective use facilitated by wider and easy access and a better interface which improves the governance mechanisms of the government. Innovation in areas like transport and agriculture, and the e-enabling of panchayats, empowers the common person to not only access existing services, but to also become a key stakeholder in scripting the growth story of their state.
It needs to be reiterated that innovation in government initiatives is not an option, but a necessary adoption to drive greater change. Neither is innovation a one-time affair, nor is it a photo-op opportunity. A closer look at Karnataka?s strides will show you that innovation is a mindset, and when translated into governance, becomes a way of being; which constantly seeks to create, design and ultimately disrupt.
T T Ram Mohan is a professor of finance and accounting at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahemdabad.
Featured Image Source: Kathleen via?Pixabay
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