Karnataka’s RDPR Department pioneers tech solutions for rural inclusion

L. K. Atheeq IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka

Karnataka’s flagship programs include NGSK 2.0, Panchatantra 2.0, and e-Swathu. The department plans to create a dashboard using these programs to provide a high-level summary of ongoing activities and schemes. This will enhance transparency and help in monitoring and evaluating their progress shares, L. K. Atheeq IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka, with Krishna Mishra of Elets News Network (ENN).

What are the key priority areas of rural development and the panchayat raj department of Karnataka?

Our primary focus in rural development and Panchayat Raj is to oversee the implementation of infrastructure projects that will benefit rural areas, including rural roads, sanitation facilities, and drinking water supply. Additionally, we place a high priority on promoting employment and livelihood opportunities for rural communities, which is our fourth priority. To achieve these objectives, we utilize a variety of programs such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) for employment, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for rural road construction, and Jal Jeevam Mission (JJM) for drinking water and sanitation programs ranging from individual toilets to solid and liquid waste management in villages.

The ultimate goal is to enhance rural infrastructure, with the management of Panchayat Raj institutions as our secondary priority. The democratic decentralisation of the Gram Panchayat in Karnataka, as well as the strong decentralised institutions of 31 Zila Panchayats, 237 block panchayats, and 5,950 Gram Panchayats, is crucial to achieving our rural development objectives. Therefore, the administration of these Panchayats is also a top priority for us. Karnataka is home to roughly 28,600 villages, each covered by 5,900-gram panchayats, resulting in an average population of 5,000 to 6,000 people per gram panchayat.

Karnataka has been one of the pioneering states as far as technology is concerned. Could you please tell me how you are leveraging technology for improving rural governance and changing the lives of ordinary people?

Over the past 12-13 years, Karnataka has developed a strong culture of utilizing e-governance and information and communication technologies for rural administration. Among the software applications that have been implemented is Panchatantra, a comprehensive accounting and governance software for gram panchayats, which has been in use since 2014 despite being up to 10-12 years old. This software has been a crucial source of IT support and infrastructure for all Panchayats, allowing them to carry out their administrative tasks efficiently. Even after eight years since its inception, Panchatantra is still a vital tool in the Panchayat administration process, currently used simultaneously by over 20,000 users in all 6,000 Panchayats.

In 2013, Karnataka implemented e-Swathu, a software system that provides e-services for property management, including agricultural launches of Panchayat properties. That year, they also introduced ISO 2 and Gandhi Sakshi Kayaka, a geo tagging software application that monitors all civil works carried out by the department. These software tools have provided IT support to Panchayat Raj institutions for the last 10-12 years. However, recently, Karnataka decided to upgrade its software and developed Panchatantra 2.0, a comprehensive suite of services for Panchayats. Panchatantra 2.0 includes citizen services, such as applying for property-related permissions, building and trade licenses, and filing complaints online. The software automates the accounting of all gram panchayats’ schemes, receipts, expenditures, and vouchers, and digitizes property tax collection. The software also integrates governance tools such as meeting management, HR, profile creation, and survey planning. HDFC Bank and Axis Bank are integrated into the online payment system, and property taxation is expected to become online within the next six months.

Furthermore, Gandhi Sakshi Kayaka has been upgraded to NGSK or GSK 2.0, a comprehensive work monitoring software with a computerized pre-planning stage. It captures all points along the line of the road that they want to build, put it on maps and submits it for approval. Every approved work has a unique ID linked to the E-procurement portal of the government. Post-tender geotagging is done at every stage of the work, and billing measurement and book recording are done online. Payment certification is sent to the chief accounts officer of the Zila panchayat, and the chief executive officers pay or submit a fund request to the government if needed.

Karnataka’s flagship programs include NGSK 2.0, Panchatantra 2.0, and e-Swathu. These software programs provide a wide range of services. The department plans to create a dashboard using these programs to provide a high-level summary of ongoing activities and schemes. This will enhance transparency and help in monitoring and evaluating their progress.

How has it impacted the life of an ordinary citizen?

The initiatives we have put in place offer both transparency and benefits for the general public. People can now easily view and download images and data and check for approved and properly executed work. In addition, citizens can apply for various services online, and we have implemented a fee-for-service system that ensures unbiased application approvals based on the order they are received.

Moreover, we have incorporated Sakala, a program that guarantees the timely delivery of government services, to ensure that citizens receive their services promptly. These measures not only enhance governance by providing transparency, but also prevent fraud, maintain records of fund flow, and eliminate double claiming or duplication of work. We have made this information public to ensure complete transparency.

What are the key challenges of the rural economy? What steps is the department taking to augment rural livelihood and entrepreneurship?

Unemployment and inadequate income, especially for those who rely on agriculture and have small landholdings, are among the primary challenges faced by rural areas. To tackle this issue, we have implemented short-term measures such as providing jobs through NREGA to job cardholders. However, we are also working on long-term solutions through programs like Natural Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), which equip people with skills and employment opportunities. This includes providing services to small self-help groups.

We are also actively engaging women’s self-help groups in various activities to improve the quality of healthcare, education, livelihoods, employment, and infrastructure in rural areas. Our efforts include improving infrastructure and healthcare services and involving development and gram panchayats in overseeing education. We provide grants to improve schools and have introduced the gram panchayat level Arogya Amrutha Abhiyaana to screen people for non-communicable diseases. If any infections are detected, we refer the patients for treatment to prevent further complications. We also assist the health department by using screening kits with the involvement of the gram panchayat. These are the challenges we face, and we are actively working to address them.

How do you plan to rope into startups? India is today the world, third-largest startup ecosystem. what are the opportunities for startups in rural?

There are numerous fields in which startups operate, such as technology and business, that offer ample opportunities for collaboration. Our organization is currently partnering with startups in various areas, including remote water filtration plant monitoring, to address water quality issues. Despite installing 18,000 reverse osmosis-based water purification plants, we have received complaints regarding their functionality and maintenance. To address this issue, we are working with these startups on a pilot basis, and if the project is successful, we plan to expand our partnership.

Another area where startups are playing a significant role in agriculture. We are promoting farmer-producer organizations in each district, and identifying specific products to focus on. Startups are instrumental in connecting these organizations with markets, which is a major challenge in the agricultural sector. This connection is essential to increase efficiency and reduce wastage, which is currently estimated at 30 to 35% of agricultural produce, particularly fruits and vegetables. We welcome startups to collaborate with us in this area to leverage their potential for greater impact.

Is there any foreign tie-up going on as far as development agencies are concerned?

We currently do not have any specific foreign ties, but we have sought multilateral assistance from the World Bank for various initiatives, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, state share contribution, and sector improvement reforms. To achieve our goals, we have applied for a loan of over 363 million from the World Bank. We also have a small collaboration with the German government through GIZ.

Our collaboration with GIZ involves the preparation of decentralized water budgets at the gram panchayat level, and they are working intensively in two districts to establish centres for excellence in geospatial technologies. These centres will enable us to locate groundwater recharge and water conservation structures more scientifically, rather than building them without a scientific basis. By using geospatial and geophysical surveys, we can determine whether check dams will help the underground aquifer, leading to more efficient and effective water conservation efforts.

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