India's First 'District Good Governance Index' To Be Launched In Jammu Today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will virtually launch India's first 'District Good Governance Index' in Jammu today (22 January), according to an official release.

The index has been prepared by the Central government's Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government.

According to a Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension release, the collaboration received from J&K government's chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta enabled the conceptualisation and formulation of an index that measures the diversity of governance model in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

It provides a roadmap for similar benchmarking of governance at district level for all States and Union Territories of India, the ministry said.

"In continuation of PM Narendra Modi Ji's commitment to providing a transparent and people-friendly administration to our sisters and brothers of J&K, today at 1 PM, I will launch the District Good Governance Index (DGGI) via VC (Video-Conference)" Shah said in a tweet on Saturday (22 January).

Earlier, Shah had launched the National Good Governance Index on 25 December 2021.

"The Good Governance Index 2021 indicated that Jammu and Kashmir had registered an increase of 3.7 percent in Good Governance Indicators over the 2019 to 2021 period," the ministry said.

Strong performances were witnessed in Commerce and Industry, Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Public Infrastructure & Utilities, Judiciary and Public Safety Sectors, it added.

"In this backdrop of strong governance performance at National level, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s initiative of benchmarking governance at District level assumes considerable significance," the ministry said.

The District Good Governance Index (DGGI) has helped identify the impact of various governance interventions at district level and provide a futuristic roadmap for improving district level governance with targeted intervention, it added.

According to the ministry, some of the key highlights of the results the DGGI has presented are:

1. In Agriculture and Allied Sector – Universal coverage has been achieved in Kisan Credit Card scheme, Soil Health Card Scheme and Animal Vaccination. Most Districts of Jammu & Kashmir witnessed growth of Food Grain Production, Horticulture produce, Milk and Meat production, poultry production, agriculture credit.

2. Commerce and Industry Sector – improvement is seen in GST registration, MSME units registered online, Credit to Handicrafts and Credit for Self-Employment. There is a 109 percent increase in credit to handicrafts in 2019-2021 period.

3. Human Resources Development Sector – The percentage of Schools with Drinking Water, Separate Toilets and Electricity Facilities have shown an increase as also the percentage of schools with access to computers and number of children served mid-day meals. In 10 districts 100 percent skill trainings have been imparted to registered students.

4. Public Health Sector – Full Immunization represents a significant success story, percentage of PHC/ Sub-Centers converted to Health & Wellness Centers, proportion of Anganwadis with own buildings have shown improvements.

5. Public Infrastructure and Utilities Sector – Housing for all scheme indicates more than 50 percent of sanctioned houses being grounded in 12 districts, Ganderbal and Srinagar achieving 100 percent access to safe drinking water, 18 districts achieving 100 percent access to sanitation facilities, improvements in households electrified and construction of all-weather roads.

6. Social Welfare and Development Sector – 80 percent Aadhar seeding of ration cards represents a major milestone.

7. Financial Inclusion Sector – Financial inclusion under Jan Dhan Yojana has achieved universal coverage, financial support under self-employment schemes has also registered double digit growth.

8. Judicial and Public Safety Sector – disposal of court cases has gone up significantly.

9. Citizen Centric Governance Sector – tremendous momentum in government offices converted to e-Office, almost 100 percent progress in grievance redressal and significant increases in government services provided online.