Taking good governance and the government to the people’s doorstep, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government on Monday announced a slew of decisions and initiatives like setting up the Chief Minister’s field offices in all districts, ‘Lok Milni’, annual awards for best districts and sub-divisions, among others.
Making the announcements, the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema promised that the common man “will be given priority whenever they interact with Government machinery”.
“Good governance model has eight major characteristics...participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law. I assure the people of Punjab that AAP Government would deliver on these all eight characteristics,” said Cheema while presenting the budget proposals in the Vidhan Sabha.
Matching steps with the technology and the changing times, Cheema announced the setting up of Centre for Emerging Technologies to enable the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the government functioning.
A ‘District Performance Dashboard’ has also been proposed to monitor the performance of districts on various indicators, while introducing greater purpose and accountability in the administration’s functioning.
A ‘State Institute for Smart Governance and Financial Management’ would also be set up for developing a good governance model. “The dedicated institute would assist the State Government in developing a governance model based on a holistic approach with the underlying objectives of bringing efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the system thereby giving ‘Visibility to Governance’,” said Cheema.
In addition, the Government has also proposed to come up with a ‘State Data Integration Platform’ (SDIP) to facilitate access and management of data across all departments. “A Government without authentic data is like a doctor without a stethoscope. Punjab is one of the pioneering states to have a comprehensive State Data Policy. The State aspires to nurture a culture of data-driven and evidence-based decision-making. Through the implementation of Punjab State Data Policy-2020, the State would leverage data and technology to optimize service delivery chains of various programs or schemes through e-governance systems. A State Data Steering Committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, would be set up to monitor the implementation of State Data Policy,” he added.
Reminding AAP’s promise to give “good governance”, Cheema pointed out that the Government has already enhanced the timings of all 320 Sewa Kendras and Saanjh Kendras by two hours on weekdays, with these Kendras also remaining open on Sundays. He added that the Government has introduced 100-plus new services through Sewa Kendras taking the total number of such services to 425.
“A flagship program, ‘Lok Milni’, has been launched by our Government for on-the-spot redressal of the people’s grievances,” he said.
Cheema said: “To ensure every single penny from the State Exchequer reaches the targeted beneficiary in a time-bound manner, our Government will put in place a robust Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, which will not only tap leakages but also bring efficiency and effectiveness in governance.”
He also announced setting up ‘CM Field Offices’ in every district, and introducing annual awards for ‘Best Districts’ and ‘Best Sub-Divisions’ “adjudged on their performance contributing to the growth of the State economy”.
“We also propose to introduce ‘Doorstep Delivery Services’ system whereby citizens would be able to avail various services from the comfort of their homes. Essential public services like getting caste or marriage certificates, driving license, ration card, new water connection or electricity connection etc, would soon be delivered at their doorstep,” said Cheema.
PUNJAB TO LAUNCH DELHI'S FLAGSHIP FARISHTEY SCHEME, SET UP MOHALLA CLINICS
Taking a cue from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Government in Delhi, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced a robust health infrastructure and a new chapter in academics — in sync with the party’s pre-poll promises which catapulted the party to power.
Replicating some of the leading initiatives of the Delhi Government, Cheema announced the setting up of 117 ‘Mohalla Clinics’, launching much-talked-about ‘Farishtey’ scheme to help the accident victims, and introducing ‘Punjab Young Entrepreneur Programme’ for Class XI students to encourage entrepreneurial skills at a young age.
“The party has presented a successful and effective model in Delhi under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convener. Replicating similar initiatives in Punjab, we promise to make it a State over which present and future generations will be proud of,” said Cheema while presenting the budget proposals for 2022-23. Interestingly, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was in attendance at a time when Cheema was presenting AAP Government’s maiden budget.
Already, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken a slew of initiatives to curb corruption in the state government’s functioning, launching an anti-corruption helpline on the pattern of Delhi Government.
Cheema, in his Budget speech, said that Mohalla or Pind Clinics will be set up to decentralize the public health services to the lowest level. “This year, the Government plans to establish 117 Mohalla Clinics for which an initial allocation of Rs 77 crore is being proposed, and 75 of these would be operationalized by August 15, 2022,” he said.
Also announcing rolling out of Delhi Government’s flagship ‘Farishtey’ scheme in Punjab also, Cheema said that under this, the sufferers of road accidents will be given free treatment and the entire cost would be borne by the Government and the helper would also be felicitated.
“Casualties in road accidents due to the dearth of timely medical help is a remorseful experience. AAP Government is extremely sensitive to the cause and would try to make sure that anyone who suffers from a road accident is saved. For this, a scheme on the pattern of ‘Farishtey’ scheme in New Delhi would be launched in Punjab whereby anyone can take a road accident victim(s) and get them admitted to any hospital,” said Cheema.
In an attempt to nip the young entrepreneurial skills in the bud, Punjab Government will also start a Young Entrepreneur Programme on Delhi pattern, making Rs 50 crore allocation for the same. “Punjab Young Entrepreneur Programme is a start-up programme where Class XI students would be encouraged to propose their original business ideas, which would be supported by the Government by providing seed money at the rate of Rs 2000 per student. This programme is aimed to instill financial and leadership skills in the students, which would equip them to take charge of their careers later in their life,” said Cheema.
BOX
· CM Field Offices in every district
· Annual awards for ‘Best Districts’ and ‘Best Sub-Divisions’
· Doorstep Delivery Services system
· Lok Milni for on-the-spot redressal of people’s grievances
· Timings of all 320 Sewa Kendras and Saanjh Kendras enhanced by two hours on weekdays, opened on Sundays
· 100-plus new services introduced through Sewa Kendras
· DBT mechanism to ensure benefits reach targeted beneficiary in time-bound manner
· Centre for Emerging Technologies to enable the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning in govt functioning
· District Performance Dashboard to monitor district’s performance
· State Institute for Smart Governance and Financial Management
· State Data Integration Platform to facilitate access and management of data across all departments