Punjab has just begun its journey with respect to the Mission Mode Projects- Agriculture . What are the key objectives of the Projects
Some of the key objectives include:
– Bringing farmer centricity & service orientation to the programs
– Enhancing reach & impact of extension services
– Improving access of farmers to information & services throughout the crop cycle
– Building upon, enhancing & integrating the existing ICT initiatives of centre and the states
– Enhancing efficiency & effectiveness of programs through process redesign.
– More effective management of the schemes of DAC
– Creation of Aadhar seeded farmers’ database for DBT operations for disbursement of subsidies.
The scope of the project includes provision of computer hardware down to block level, site preparation, data digitisation, capacity building, training, change management, application development and customisation for modules developed by DAC.
What are the key milestones & measurable outcomes targeted for Punjab MMP-A ?
The project is expected to bring the following benefits to the stakeholders – farmers, business and the Government:
– Provide uniform face of government to the agriculture sector stakeholder (especially farmers)
– Service-level governed service delivery with built-in checks and balances to increase efficiency
– Streamlined processes which make the government efficient and effective for service delivery
– Improved monitoring of compliance, MIS and utilisation of public money.
It would make current service delivery mechanisms more efficient, transparent and accountable. Further, it would facilitate farmers to have easy access to these services through multiple service delivery channels.
Farmer portal under NeGP-A would become a common platform for resource sharing among the various line department and other stakeholders.
What is the budget outlay and the implementation timeline?
The estimated budget outlay on the project is Rs 6.28 cr. The cluster / services / components are to be implemented to block level during a time span of 5 years from 2014-2015. Punjab was included in the second phase of NeGP-A at the fag end of year 2014-2015. The project is in the design and development stage.
The budget available for the year 2015-2016 is being utilised for creation of State Project Monitoring Unit (SPMU), purchase of hardware etc, and providing other infrastructure down to the block level. From the next year (2016-2017) onwards, the required manpower as per NeGP-A shall be positioned and required budget for the coming financial years shall be sanctioned. Further, customisation of modules as per the requirement of the state along with other required infrastructure would be computed to seek additional funds from time to time.
What kind of challenges are being faced at the ground level ?
Hardware down to block level was to be purchased by DAC, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI but in the later part of 2015-16, GoI decided that the states should purchase the hardware on their own. The process has been started now.
GoI kept changing the sharing pattern (GOIS:SGS) from 90:10 to 55:45 to 60:40 for NeGP-A resulting in recasting of the schemes for obtaining the appropriate state government share.
The field staff lacks the general level of awareness about IT. To add to this challenge, the non existence of IT cell in the department results in lack of staff that looks full time in tech related issues.
abhishek.raval@expressindia.com