Impressed by the idea of taking governance to doorsteps; Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and some other States have evinced interest to adopt similar systems
A game-changer initiative in Andhra Pradesh Government's unique grass root administration and a brain child of young Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the concept of Village/ward Secretariat - door-step services to ensure welfare programmes reach the beneficiary — is gaining the attention of international agencies,the Union Government and a number of states.
Aimed at revamping and improving the delivery of government services, the largest of its kind in India, the setup involved hiring 389,000 volunteers to ensure that government benefits-ration cards, pension accounts and other welfare schemes-are made available in the rural areas as also in the wards in towns.
The Village Secretariat and Ward Secretariat (VSWS) Department was created to manage the operations. The volunteers who are key in the new set up are being paid a monthly remuneration of Rs 5000 and they are always available in the area to provide government benefits that are listed under various schemes at the door step of the beneficiary.
On average, there is one volunteer for every 70-100 households, tasked with doorstep-delivery of government services and ensuring that beneficiaries are identified and mapped for proactive service delivery. To ensure that services improve, issues relating to the delivery of food, social and health security benefits are to be addressed within specified time frames, with a team of 200 call-centre executives to track and monitor service delivery requests and notify relevant secretariats about impending deadlines. It all started on October 2, 2019 when the Chief Minister launched the flagship programme of his government. As a preamble to the new concept, he recruited village secretaries who would head the village secretariats. The idea came to him during his "padayatra" before the 2019 general elections when villagers complained how they are going around offices and officials for benefits of welfare programmes and how they are denied them on account of lack of funds.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti Sanitation has acknowledged the services being offered to the people at their doorstep through the new system. National Jal Jeevan Mission under the Ministry which brings out a monthly e-book, Jal Jeevan Samvad, highlighted the village/ward secretariat system in AP and pointed out: "This is a unique experiment in itself and furthers the spirit of the 73rd Constitution Amendment, 1992 and in line with 'Sarkar Aapke Dwar'- administration at your doorstep. Now by setting up of village secretariat, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a concrete step towards administrative transparency and accountability to provide better services to the people at their door step".
The special story in the magazine also mentioned that out of various services for the people, around 318 services have started reaching villagers through the village secretariat system. The beneficial effects of government schemes are clearly visible in the villages.
UNICEF, which has identified the potential strength of the village secretariat system, associated itself with the grass root network to continue its awareness campaign among children as mothers about nutrition food. A special cell with three representatives has been created by UNICEF attached to the State level Head office of village/ward secretariat. Besides, the Institution has also appointed district coordinators to take the task.
Impressed by the idea of taking governance to the people's doorsteps, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and some other states have evinced interest to adopt similar systems. Ministerial and Official representatives from these states are planning to visit AP soon to have the first-hand experience of the functioning of the setup.
As a matter of fact, the then Chief Minister of united AP Chandrababu Naidu too launched the village secretariat concept in 2002. But there is no comparison between the two since the present setup is well thought over and target-oriented, supported by a digital road map to ensure doorstep deliveries of benefits.
While Naidu had to introduce the village secretariat in view of World Bank guidelines in the name of reforms, the current CM made it happen in real terms and people are getting total benefits from the new system.
Between the first and third of every month, the present government disburses Rs 1,420.5 crore worth of pensions to 6.1 million beneficiaries under the YSR Pension Kanuka. They are delivered to beneficiaries wherever they might be, even those displaced from their homes. For transparent, well-targeted delivery of benefits, the state relies on biometric identification. A call centre with toll-free number 1902 has been set up to enable the people to register their grievances and also obtain feedback on the welfare schemes.
In all, a strong contingent of 1,34,694 village ward secretariat staff along with dedicated gram volunteers numbering 2,47,344 extend 540 services under 35 departments. Fact sheets reveal that while 3,31,57,081 service requests were registered till the end of October last, 3,29,70,051 services have been delivered.
Specific time frames are fixed for delivery. While Pension card, rice cards are to be handed over within 21 days, eligible applicants should get Arogyasri cards in 20 days and the deadline for getting house site pattas is 90 days.
A study paper on the village administration in Andhra Pradesh published in The Indian Journal of Political Science in its quarterly publication in 2006 clearly mentioned the 'outcome' of the reforms in Panchyat Raj introduced by Chandrababu Naidu.
The paper originally submitted by its author D.Ravinder at an International conference on "State, Civil Society and Citizens: Revisiting the Relationship" held in Osmania University in February, 2004, concluded that "it (the system) introduces babudom at the local level". The study paper highlighting the lacunae said with the onset of World Bank led reforms processed under the regime of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, "good governance" has become a catchy word. It is in this name that a number of reform processes were introduced in the state. One such important reform process at the grass roots level has been the introduction of "Village Secretariat" system.
The paper said this system instead of bringing good governance has become a bone of contention between hitherto existing departments, panchayat raj and revenue, and also between the elected representatives and government officials, i.e., between Sarpanch and the newly created position of "Village Secretary ''. Thus, the process of good governance at the grass roots level unleashed new conflicts. The present paper makes an attempt to analyse the dynamics of these new reforms at the grass roots in Andhra Pradesh.
Quite contrary to the setup introduced during Chandrababu regime, the present village/ward secretariat system supported by village secretaries and a battery of village/ward volunteers day and night ensuring the targeted people get welfare programmes at their doorstep without spending a single pie and wasting time.
(The writer is Advisor, National Media and Inter State Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The views expressed are personal.)
