Odisha, an eastern Indian state, has launched a unique governance model to boost the efficacy and responsiveness of public service delivery. Known as the 5T initiative, this revolutionary model stands for Teamwork, Transparency, Technology, Time, and Transformation. Conceived by the state government, it positions these five critical aspects at its core to improve governance and ensure seamless delivery of public services.
Adding to these dimensions in 2022, the Odisha Government Chief introduced another T – Tour – transforming it into the 6T-Mantra. This novel addition encourages ministers to engage more meaningfully with grassroots communities by embarking on tours and strengthening their associations.
The Five Pillars of the 5T Initiative: An Overview
Teamwork
This initiative underscores the importance of consortium and cooperation among different governmental departments and agencies. By promoting cohesiveness, it enables various state entities to effectively address the needs of the community.
Transparency
Transparency forms a quintessential part of the 5T initiative, laying emphasis on making governmental processes and decisions more lucid and accountable. It advocates for the public’s easy access to information, reduction of bureaucratic bottlenecks, and promotion of ethical conduct within the government.
Technology
The initiative pushes for the widespread adoption of modern technology and digital solutions to make government operations user-friendly, enhance service delivery, and streamline processes.
Time
It underlines the necessity of prompt service delivery, intending to minimize delays and ensure timely provision of services to the citizens.
Transformation
The 5T initiative aims to bring about a significant transformation in the functioning of government agencies and departments, fostering a more responsive, citizen-centric, and result-oriented government machinery.
5T Achievements
As of March 2023, a remarkable achievement of the 5T initiative has been the transformation of 6,872 high schools. The number of students enrolled in private schools decreased, indicating an increase in the enrolment of students in government schools.
Delving into the ‘Mo Sarkar’ Initiative
Launched in tandem with the 5T agenda in October 2019, the ‘Mo Sarkar’ or ‘My Government’ initiative aims to reshape the delivery of government services, enhancing accountability and transparency of public offices. An innovative feature is the real-time feedback mechanism where government collects citizens’ feedback, helping to identify issues, assess officers’ performance, and take timely corrective actions.
Niti Aayog-like Model at the State Level: An Outline of the Implementation Agenda
The NITI Aayog plans to assist every state in setting up similar bodies to accelerate growth and realize the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. It initially targets 8-10 states for this transition, with the eventual aim of outreaching all states by March 2023.
The Rationale behind Establishing NITI Aayog-like Bodies at the State Level
States play a crucial role in driving India’s economic growth, making it essential to revamp their planning boards with a NITI Aayog-like body. State governments greatly influence factors such as ease of doing business, land reforms, infrastructure development, credit flows, and urbanisation, all crucial for sustained economic growth.
Examining Similar Initiatives in Other States
Other states have also undertaken significant initiatives to improve governance. Kerala State Planning Board focuses on systematic planning and execution while Sakala Mission by the Karnataka Government ensures guaranteed service delivery to citizens within stipulated time frames.
Overall, these inclusive and innovative models of governance offer indispensable lessons for developing robust public service delivery mechanisms across India.