The idea of citizen-centric administration exemplifies the government’s dedication to engaging with its people at the grassroots level and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. Since its establishment in 2014, the NDA regime, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently prioritized making the Indian governance system citizen-centric. In this context, I present several dynamic initiatives undertaken by the Modi government that highlight its unwavering commitment to good governance.
(1) My govt platform: In 2014, upon assuming power, the NDA government took its first stride towards citizen-centric administration by introducing “MyGov,” an innovative platform aimed at fostering citizen engagement in decision-making processes. The primary objective was to achieve the goal of “good governance” and contribute to the development of India. MyGov India was specifically designed to be accessible to all citizens, offering features such as quizzes, debates, discussions, and the ability to submit suggestions to various government departments. The MyGov India project has proven to be a remarkable success in involving citizens from all corners of the country. With over 30 million registered users, it has facilitated more than 5.5 million comments, 1.4 million task submissions, and the active participation of 20 million individuals in quizzes. Additionally, 15 million pledges have been taken, and the platform has received 200,000 votes on various topics through polls.
(2) MANN ki BAAT: “Mann ki Baat” is yet another significant stride towards promoting “Jan Bhagidari” (people’s participation) that has sparked a social revolution across the nation. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed the momentous 100th episode of this program, which has successfully reached an astounding 1 billion people.
(3) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: This initiative further exemplifies the NDA regime’s commitment to women’s empowerment. The scheme is dedicated to promoting the education and active participation of girl children, as well as safeguarding their rights and well-being.
Achievement in monitorable targets: Over the past six years, there has been a noteworthy improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in India. The SRB has increased from 918 in 2014-15 to 934 in 2019-20, indicating a positive shift towards a more balanced gender distribution at birth. Furthermore, the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls in secondary level schools has also shown progress. It has risen from 77.45% in 2014-15 to 81.32% in 2018-19, indicating an increase in girls’ enrollment and access to education at the secondary level. (4) Pradhan Mantri Jandan Yojna: The scheme mentioned is a financial inclusion program called the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). Its objective is to enhance affordable access to various financial services, including bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance, and pensions. The PMJDY aims to provide every household with a basic account and a Rupay debit card. According to recently published data (2023) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the total balance in the PMJDY accounts has exceeded ₹2 lakh crore, marking a significant milestone. The scheme now benefits 48.70 crore individuals, with 27.08 crore of them being women, highlighting its positive impact on gender inclusion and financial empowerment.
Through various initiatives such as MyGov, Mann ki Baat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PMJDY, Ayushman Bharat, and digital public infrastructure, the government has consistently strived to empower citizens, improve social welfare, and enhance the efficiency of public service delivery. These endeavors have played a vital role in creating an inclusive and sustainable governance system that benefits all individuals in India.
(5) Ayushman Bharat Scheme: As part of the “Jan Hain to Jahan Hain” initiative, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme was introduced. Its primary objective is to offer free health insurance coverage of up to 5 lakh rupees per year to over 10 crore low-income families through Ayushman Bharat Health accounts. To date, the scheme has provided over 2 crore treatments to beneficiaries. Additionally, more than 17 crore beneficiaries have been verified through the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS) and have been issued Ayushman cards, ensuring their access to the scheme’s benefits. This showcases the significant progress made in reaching out to and assisting those in need through the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. The government’s focus on digital public infrastructure is yet another dynamic step taken by this administration. Its objective is to digitally deliver the benefits of various schemes across sectors, eliminating delays and bureaucracy at the grassroots level while ensuring the timely provision of public services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was grappling with lockdowns and health crises, the Modi government launched the telemedicine E Sanjeevani app as part of this mission. The app enabled patients to receive online consultations with doctors, providing them with necessary healthcare services remotely. To date, the app has facilitated over 10 crore consultations, with 57% of beneficiaries being women and 12% being senior citizens. This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to leveraging digital platforms to extend healthcare access and address critical challenges during trying times. In conclusion, the tenure of the NDA government has been marked by substantial progress towards establishing a citizen-centric administration. Through various initiatives such as MyGov, Mann ki Baat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PMJDY, Ayushman Bharat, and digital public infrastructure, the government has consistently strived to empower citizens, improve social welfare, and enhance the efficiency of public service delivery. These endeavors have played a vital role in creating an inclusive and sustainable governance system that benefits all individuals in India.
(The author presently a PG Student of Political Science at Jamia Millia Islamic University New Delhi has mailed this article to “Kashmir Horizon” for publication in this newspaper. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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