New Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel seems to be adopting Modi-style of governance quickly. After taking charge, she straight away focused on connecting herself directly to people via State Wide Attention of Grievances by Application of Technology (SWAGAT) online.
SWAGAT is former Gujarat Chief Minister Modi’s brain-child. It is a monthly programme that facilitates direct conversation between complainants and the CM through video conference, keeping collectors and district development officers in loop to ensure immediate solution. Modi had set a tradition to hold SWAGAT on every third Thursday of the month.
“As swearing-in ceremony of the new CM was held on Thursday, it was held on Friday this month. But from next month onwards it would be on Thursday,” said a source connected with the SWAGAT. He said that, after resuming charge as the CM, Anandiben discussed about SWAGAT with concerned people. “She also took-up 10 cases and gave necessary instructions to concerned Collectors,” he added.
Patel is also set to take another Modi legacy forward - annual Agriculture fair (Krishi Mahotsav). This year’s Krishi Mahotsav will kick off on Wednesday May 28th in newly carved Morbi district.
“Apart from SWAGAT, Anandiben also reviewed preparedness of Krishi Mahotsav in a meeting of senior bureaucrats and top officials of agriculture department on the first full day at the office,” said a source in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
It was again Modi who conceived the idea in 2002-03 to organise Krishi Mahotsav annually for one full month during May-June every year. It is an intensive convergence and mass contact strategy with programs like fairs, exhibitions, seminars and talks related to agriculture and related activities.
During a month's period experts from agricultural universities directly interact with farmers at the village level and area specific and crop specific issues and concerns of farmers are attended to.
"As a result of this programme, State has achieved impressive growth. Value of Gujarat's total agricultural production (including animal husbandry and horticultural production) has raised from Rs 18,104 crore in 2002-03 to an estimated Rs 47,540 crore in the year 2009-10," claimed a state agriculture department official.
It has led to heightened awareness amongst farmers about the advantages of scientific farming and animal husbandry, benefits of drip irrigation and built a bridge between agri-scientists and the farming community, he added.