Friday, May 5, 2023

Key Digital Initiatives of Odisha Government

The government of Odisha has implemented several digital initiatives to transform governance and deliver public services efficiently. 

1. Mo Sarkar - 
2. OSWAS - 
3. OSWAN - 
4. 13MS - 
5. SAMS - 

One of the most landmark initiatives is the 'Mo Sarkar' platform, which collects citizen feedback on the performance of government schemes and officials' professionalism at government offices. The initiative was initially implemented in Home and Health departments and has been expanded to other departments. The likely beneficiaries of the 'Mo Sarkar' initiative are the citizens, and the likely department involved in implementing it is the State Government. The benefits of the initiative include increased transparency, accountability, and efficiency in service delivery

Another successful initiative is the Odisha State Workflow Automation System (OSWAS), which brings transparency to the government system and timely disposal of files. The platform automates the workflow and has been extended up to the district level, and it is soon to be extended to the block level. The likely beneficiaries of this initiative are government officials and citizens, and the likely department involved is the State Government. The benefits of the OSWAS include increased transparency, faster processing of files, and better security.

Odisha State Wide Area Network (OSWAN) is another digital intervention that enables the government to run various applications, access the internet, and conduct audio and video activities like video conferencing seamlessly without any interruption. The likely beneficiaries of this initiative are government officials, and the likely department involved in implementing it is the State Government. The benefits of the OSWAN include better communication, faster access to information, and improved efficiency.

The Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System (13MS) is a model single-window ICT platform implemented by the government that connects all stakeholders of the major mines and minerals ecosystem. The platform has enhanced revenue collection, quickened clearances, and plugged leakages across the mining value chain since its launch in 2014. The likely beneficiaries of this initiative are the stakeholders in the mining industry, and the likely department involved is the Department of Steel and Mines. The benefits of the 13MS include increased transparency, faster processing of applications, and improved efficiency.

The student academic management system is a unified, common platform for admissions and student lifecycle management for higher education across multiple streams and colleges. The state now boasts of an integrated scholarship portal streamlining the management of 21 scholarship schemes of six major departments on a single portal that minimizes duplication and ensures leakage-free scholarship disbursement to around 12 lakh beneficiaries. The likely beneficiaries of this initiative are students and scholarship beneficiaries, and the likely department involved in implementing it is the Department of Higher Education. The benefits of the student academic management system include better management of student records, easier access to information, and improved efficiency.

In conclusion, these digital initiatives have helped Odisha emerge as a pioneer state in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive and transform governance and deliver public services effectively. The likely departments involved in implementing these initiatives are the State Government, the Department of Steel and Mines, and the Department of Higher Education. The likely beneficiaries include citizens, government officials, students, and stakeholders in the mining industry, and the benefits include increased transparency, accountability, efficiency, and better access to information.

Marquee Schemes of Odisha Government

Scheme 1: Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY)
Department of Government of Odisha involved: Department of Health and Family Welfare
Likely beneficiaries: Families in Odisha with an annual income of less than Rs. 5 lakh
Benefits: The scheme provides free healthcare services to families in Odisha. Under the scheme, beneficiaries can avail of cashless medical treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per annum for secondary and tertiary care procedures. Additionally, the scheme provides free transportation services to patients in need of medical care.

Scheme 2: Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA)
Department of Government of Odisha involved: Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment
Likely beneficiaries: Farmers, cultivators, landless agriculture laborers, and vulnerable households in Odisha
Benefits: The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to farmers and vulnerable households to improve their livelihoods. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance of up to Rs. 10,000 per year for cultivation and livelihood activities. The scheme also provides insurance coverage for crops and support for the construction of houses.

Scheme 3: Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Yojana (AGABY)
Department of Government of Odisha involved: Department of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water
Likely beneficiaries: Villages and panchayats in Odisha
Benefits: The scheme aims to empower rural communities in Odisha by providing them with basic infrastructure facilities. Under the scheme, eligible villages and panchayats can receive financial assistance for the construction of roads, bridges, culverts, community centers, playgrounds, and other infrastructure facilities.

Scheme 4: Mission Shakti
Department of Government of Odisha involved: Department of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti
Likely beneficiaries: Women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs) in Odisha
Benefits: The scheme aims to empower women in Odisha by providing them with financial assistance and training. Under the scheme, eligible women entrepreneurs and SHGs can receive financial assistance for setting up small businesses, improving their existing businesses, and for marketing their products. The scheme also provides training and capacity building support to women entrepreneurs and SHGs.

Scheme 5: Biju Yuva Vahini
Department of Government of Odisha involved: Department of Sports and Youth Services
Likely beneficiaries: Youth in Odisha
Benefits: The scheme aims to promote youth empowerment and development in Odisha. Under the scheme, eligible youth can participate in various sports and cultural activities, receive training and skill development support, and access career counseling and guidance services. The scheme also provides financial assistance to youth for education and entrepreneurship.