The 37th meeting of Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), a comprehensive platform for facilitating communication between the Central and State governments has recently been held, with Prime Minister (PM) at its helm. The meeting saw the PM reviewing various projects worth Rs 1,26,000 crores alongside the ‘One Nation – One Ration Card’ (ONORC) scheme.
Understanding ONORC Scheme
The ONORC scheme aims at making subsidized food grains accessible to migrant workers and their families across the nation through fair price shops as prescribed under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
About PRAGATI: Inception and Design
Launched in 2015, PRAGATI is a brainchild of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) team, developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Center (NIC). It works as a conduit for the PM to engage with concerned officials from the Centre and States, equipped with complete information and latest visuals mirroring the ground level situation.
Technological Framework of PRAGATI
The PRAGATI platform integrates three modern technologies, namely Digital data management, video-conferencing, and geo-spatial technology. It functions as a three-tier system involving the PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States.
Objectives of PRAGATI
PRAGATI aims to serve as an effective tool for grievance redressal, program implementation, and project monitoring.
Significance of PRAGATI
PRAGATI encourages cooperative federalism by creating a common platform for the Secretaries of the Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States to come together. The platform is viewed as a strong system for promoting e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time interaction and exchange among the key stakeholders. Its innovative application in e-Governance has earned it the status of a good governance model.
Concerns Associated with PRAGATI
Despite its numerous advantages, PRAGATI has been subjected to criticism from various quarters. The main concern revolves around the direct interaction between the PM and state secretaries without the involvement of the political executives from the states. Critics argue that this practice could lead to undermining of the state’s political executives and potentially result in the concentration of power in the extra-constitutional office of PMO.
Through the PRAGATI platform, the PM’s direct interaction with state officials bypassing political executives raised concerns about an accumulation of power within the PMO and diminishing the roles of state’s political executives. Despite these debates, the platform remains instrumental for effective project monitoring and implementation, fostering transparency and accountability in governance.
