The transformation of a system is attaining an improved form by implementing changes at the structural level. It propels the system through a speedy development process. Similarly, when a government takes bold steps to remove the bottlenecks in the age-old setup of functioning and decision-making in governance and foster innovation and modernization to ensure accurate, effective, faster, and convenient services for the common people, it’s called a transformative government. The period of the Fadnavis government from 2014 to 2019 is often referred to as a standout era of transformation and development in Maharashtra.
Developments of an area, district, and state usually refer to infrastructure development and the development of living conditions, and as they are implemented on the ground, they get noticed easily. However, transformation cannot be seen easily as it has no physical implementation. Transformation is induced by need, vision, discipline, and determination, and runs through various layers of a system, only to be felt by user experience.
After coming to power, Fadnavis identified governance and development as his prime focus areas. He believes that good governance is a key to all-round development as it helps ensure that political and institutional processes align with the needs of the common people and society. His vision was to bring about transformation in governance so it provides cordial, quick, and fault-free services to the common people. An early advocate of e-governance to bring the people living in remote areas under better coverage of governance, he facilitated faster digitalization of all manual information and processes, a stronger technology backbone for the e-governance operation, and improved internet bandwidth in the villages. Below are some of the transformative initiatives for Maharashtra developments taken by the Fadnavis government:
- “Lokayukta” is a special cell with high authority for redressal of corruption charges against the govt. Officials. Fadnavis govt. was the first in the country to introduce it. Even the CMO is also not above Lokayukta.
- Upgraded Maharashtra’s e-governance backbone to Blockchain, the latest technology adopted by the leading countries, to enhance the users’ experience.
- Started the Digital Maharashtra initiative to improve digital literacy and access to e-governance in the villages of Maharashtra..
- Mahalavarthi portal launched under the Digital Maharashtra initiative, created to provide information about all govt. schemes to citizens in a personalized manner. It contains information on hundreds of government welfare schemes, benefits, subsidies, and entitlements.
- Women empowerment in the villages is one of the prime focus areas of the Fadnavis government. This involves the upliftment of backward-class women by working closely with them and helping them participate in Panchayat and Gram Sabhas.
- Brought transparency to the real estate sector. Unlike earlier, this ensured developers obtained the NOC within seven days if they submitted all documents as per the 57 building designs approved by the government.
- The Fadnavis government decentralized the power to grant additional FSI for buildings to the civic bodies. It helped the builders to get approval for the higher FSI buildings meant for the factories, schools, etc. from the district collector.
- Introduced Right to Service Act in Maharashtra to enable citizens access complete information either through a mobile app RTS Maharashtra or the web portal Aaple Sarkar.
- The Aaple Sarkar portal was upgraded to incorporate artificial intelligence(AI) to be more interactive and more efficient for all aspects of governance.
- A massive initiative was undertaken by the Fadnavis government to digitize land records in all 29000 villages in Maharashtra. This was aimed to reduce dependence on manual processes.
- Experts and corporates were all praise for Fadnavis’s focus on rural welfare under the initiative called Sahabhag. Probably for the first time the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) funds were utilized for tangible results.
- Initiated Village Social transformation in Maharashtra in collaboration with a number of leading corporates – although a government exercise, handled professionally by a team comprised of people from the private sector and a CEO at the top.
- Corporates and NGOs were happy to participate in the Sahabhag initiative taken by Fadnavis because they could see the vision, clarity, and drive. Also, the proper utilization of the CSR fund enthused them.
- FIR copy through WhatsApp and email – this small but important step taken by the police department in the Fadnavis government increased the confidence of the citizens and the responsiveness of the police.
- Under the Fadnavis government, Maharashtra became the first state to have a cyber police station in all the districts. The upsurge in cybercrime was timely arrested.
- Cybercrimes can’t be handled by normal police stations. The Fadnavis government created 51 cybercrime labs in Maharashtra and designated them as cyber police stations.
Transform Maharashtra: An initiative to increase youth participation in Maharashtra development initiatives.
Devendra Fadnavis, who constantly strives to increase people’s participation in the work of the government, started the initiative ‘Transform Maharashtra’ when he was the Chief Minister, with the aim that the government should make use of the creativity and energy of the youth in its Maharashtra development plans. Through the ‘Transform Maharashtra’ initiative, Devendra Fadnavis interacted with thousands of students on various issues and policies of the government of Maharashtra. For example, the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Program, introduced by the Fadnavis government, was an 11-month-long internship program in the various departments relating to governance. Bright young graduates, trained on web-based procedures and networking, were inducted as CM Fellows, to assist in the governance procedures. This way, as the young graduates learned and earned, the government gained from their knowledge and energy.
Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF)
A dynamic leadership is often seen taking up unconventional ideas or walking an uncommon path to achieve its goals. In 2016, the Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF) came into being as a unique public-private partnership undertaken by the Government of Maharashtra to transform 1,000 villages across the state. The selected villages were the worst villages by HDI (Human Development Index) parameters. The program was aimed at empowering villages toward self-sustainable development in key problem areas such as access to clean water, housing, improved livelihoods for people under the poverty line, skill development, and access to the internet, among others. CM Devendra Fadnavis, realizing that procedural delays and lack of professionalism could make this project run out of steam, took an unconventional decision to appoint a CEO to professionally manage the project with the required thrust.
How Harisal became India’s first digital village
Harisal village of Amravati had a significantly low position in all the Human Development Index (HDI) parameters, such as health, education, employment, and income levels. Devendra Fadnavis, then CM, met Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss digital solutions for many problems in villages. Their meeting resulted in Microsoft’s adoption of Harisal as a test case to develop it as India’s first digital village. Harisal and a few adjoining villages were soon facilitated with free Internet access by Microsoft using its ‘white space’ technology and the unused spectrum of two TV channels. Microsoft also deputed its officials to study and implement different technological solutions for Harisal. Once the village was digitally connected, the state government started leveraging it for various constructive activities, such as making villagers self-reliant, providing training, creating employment, and providing health services. .
Real-time governance – fast-tracking the actions on drought issues
Lack of coordination and procedural delays often hinder timely help from the government to the villages suffering from acute water crises or other problems. CM Fadnavis came up with an unusual but innovative idea to circumvent these inherent lacunae in governance. During the dry spell in 2016, to learn the ground reality in the affected villages and ensure prompt supply of water, an audio bridge was set up connecting all who are responsible for dispensing water to the villagers – the Sarpanch and Gramsevak, the Tehsildar, the Zilla Adhikari, and the CM himself as the head of the state. There was no scope for excuses or passing the buck. The entire conversation was recorded for future reference. This way the village representatives could directly speak to the CM and receive the real-time solution. On the other hand, CM was also able to reach out to the masses.
Transform Maharashtra program
The ‘Transform Maharashtra’ program was organized under Action for Collective Transformation (ACT) on Maharashtra Day in 2017 at NSCI, Worli. Earlier, a competition was organized across the state. 6 lakh students from across the state participated in this program. Of the 2300 students who presented solutions on various topics, Teams from 11 colleges were selected for the final round. These teams presented their ideas before the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Even a small experiment can make a big change in people’s lives if technology and knowledge are used properly. Students from 11 colleges presented innovative ideas to handle various issues like solid waste management, eradicating urban poverty, corruption-free Maharashtra, drought-free Maharashtra, integration of transport systems (traffic control), citizen participation in governance, Startup India, use of technology in rural life and adoption of modern methods for speedy justice. Some of these concepts were approved by the panel.
On another occasion, Fadnavis discussed ‘Vision Maharashtra 2025’ with the students of the state and encouraged them to solve the important problems faced by the state. Students from many engineering institutes, including the IIT Mumbai, participated with their solution models to deal with a variety of problems. Fadnavis, like PM Modi, always believes that energy, dedication, and innovation by the youth if channeled properly, can accelerate the process of transformation in the society and even in governance.
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