Chief Secretary emphasizes on Innovations in Public Service
In another bid towards good governance, Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati has emphasized upon innovative practices in delivery of public services and running of public systems. Chief Secretary has directed Principal Secretary, General Administration, Sri Niten Chandra to constitute an Innovation Project Monitoring Unit (IPMU) under State Innovation Council to foster the environment of innovation, document the best practices, facilitate their replication and up-scalling.
Sri Pati has given these directions while presiding over a high level meeting on Innovations in Public Systems held in secretariat conference hall today wherein Mr D.Chakrapani from Center for Innovations in Public Systems, Hyderabad along with Sri A.K. Tripathy, Director General Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Bhubaneswar presented various innovative practices from different states in field of primary education, higher education, health services, urban waste management and bio-waste management.
Experts present in the meeting opined that Odisha is in forefront of IT application in public services. Different departments have also adopted various good practices and IT innovations. The innovative practices regarding bio-digester (disposal of bio-waste), eco-san tiolets (preparation of fertilizer from bio-waste), rural medical practices, eye care, urban governance, quality assurance in school education, It schools, etc. were presented and discussed in the meeting.
Experience of Odisha in some of these areas were also shared with the experts. Reviewing the progress in these matters Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed the departments to strengthen the technological drives, ensure maintenance of equipments and fix responsibility for non-maintenance. Chief Secretary has also advised various Public Authorities to develop and hoist their own websites with citizens interface and crowd sourcing systems to catch good practices.
It may be pertinent here to mention that Govt of Odisha has already constituted State Innovation Council ( SIC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary with prime objectives of fostering innovation culture, harnessing creative potential in the State and promoting conducive conditions for innovation in various sectors. In the meanwhile the Council has prepared the schemes like Awards for successful Innovations, Financial assistance to Innovative Projects and Implementation of Innovative Projects. 5 nos of Incubation Centers have been proposed for innovative schemes.
The proposed incubation centers include IIT, Bhubaneswar, VSSUT, Burla, CET, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur university, Vanjavihar and NIT, Rourkela. These institutes have been asked to formulate proposals for innovation and incubation centers. As per directions of Chief Secretary 4 sub-committees have been constituted for formulating innovative proposals in various sectors.
These Committees include Agriculture and Food Processing subcommittee under Chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Health Sub-Committee under Chairmanship of Director AIMS, Education Sub-Committee under Chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Higher Education and Secretary, School & Mass Education and a Social Sector Sub-committee under Chairmanship of Secretary, Housing & urban Development. This subcommittee covers areas like water, sanitation, energy and e-governance.
State Innovation Council has also formulated the draft innovation Policy for Odisha. The members of the Council have been asked to send their inputs to Planning & Coordination Department within 30th April. Chief Secretary Sri Pati has asked various Sub-Committees to come up with specific innovative projects on how to apply available research results in improving good governance and delivery of services.