Context: A recent case study by Oxford titled ‘From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress’, has spotlighted PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) as a game-changer in India’s digital governance landscape.
About PRAGATI:
- PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a multi-modal interactive platform launched in 2015.
- It is aimed at addressing grievances of citizens and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government at Centre & State level.
- It is a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
- It combines leadership with video conferencing, geo-spatial technology (drone feeds), and digital data management to enable oversight of critical infrastructure.
- Since its inception, it has helped accelerate more than 340 major infrastructure projects worth some $205 billion.
Advantages of PRAGATI:
- Active Oversight: Direct involvement of the Prime Minister ensures consistent monitoring and resolution of delays. It also encourages urgency and accountability among bureaucrats, engineers and key stakeholders.
- Digital tools for Project Management: Integrates video conferencing, drone feeds, and data management for effective oversight enabling transparent tracking of progress and bottlenecks faced in the project.
- Collaboration at various Government levels: Encourages cooperation between central and state governments, various stakeholders promoting cooperative federalism.
- Efficiency and Accountability: Promotes swift resolution of project delays and resolves bureaucratic hurdles at the top level.
- Role model for Platforms: It has inspired creation of platforms like PM Gati Shakti (geospatial planning) and PARIVESH (streamlined environmental clearances) and created a comprehensive digital ecosystem for infrastructure development.
- Economic Impact: RBI studies have shown that every ₹1 spent on infrastructure yields a ₹2.5-3.5 gain in GDP, thus it will support India’s growth towards becoming the third-largest economy by 2027.
Success Stories:
- Completion of Long-Delayed Projects: National Highway 8 (Maharashtra), Chenab Bridge (Jammu and Kashmir), Bogibeel Bridge (Assam): Completed within 3 years after a decade of stagnation.
- Accelerated Social Development Programs: Improved rural electrification and provision of tap water connections to millions of households.
- Reduced delays in infrastructure and environmental clearances: PARIVESH reduced clearance times from 600 days to 70-75 days.
Other advantages associated with E-Governance:
Also Read: Potential of e-Governance