About 2.75 crore people have received public services within time-limit since implementation of the unique Public Services Delivery Guarantee Act in Madhya Pradesh. Of these, cases of 1.39 crore applicants were solved online.
It may be mentioned that this Act was implemented in year 2010 in Madhya Pradesh on the initiative of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, which was first in the country. Objective of the Act is to keep public servants alert about fulfillment of common people’s day-to-day requirements and make them more accountable in their duties.
Following Act’s implementation, people have got public services’ guarantee. Fine from Rs 250 to Rs 5,000 is imposed on the public servants on failure to deliver service within time-limit.
So far, 102 services of 21 departments have been brought under the ambit of the Act. Online facility has been given for receiving applications and delivery of 47 services of 16 departments. As many as 335 public service centres have been established upto development block level under PPP mode. Process is on to make online 15 new services through public service centres this year. Action is also underway to notify new services.
For simplifying process of services’ delivery forms of 102 services of 21 departments have been printed and provided to concerning departments to release them to people. Digital signatures of over 12000 officers have been prepared to deliver services online. Under several services, certificates with digital signatures are being issued.
The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 300 crore recently for strengthening and universalisation of public services’ delivery. The World Bank has also sanctioned Rs 2 crore for technical assistance of Public Service Portal.
It may be mentioned that Madhya Pradesh has received United Nations Organisation’s prestigious award in the category of “Improving The Delivery of Public Services” for putting in place an effective mechanism for delivering public services. Similarly, the state has also received Skoch Award and e-Governance Excellence Award this year.
This effort of the state government towards ensuring good governance has been widely acclaimed. Bihar, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and other states have replicated this Act.