I-District: GADCHIROLI - Collectorate, Gadchiroli

I-District: GADCHIROLI 

Project Submitted by : ATUL PATNE, 

Collector Gadchiroli

What is I-Governance 

• I-governance means Innovative Governance 

– It is the proper application of heart and mind in the designing 

and implementation of the government policies 

– It is doing things in a better way 

– In a innovation driven global economy the governments have 

to gear up in facilitating and promoting innovation in all walks 

of public life 

– Innovation is an automatic outcome of a holistic 

developmental paradigm 

• It is antithetical to departmentalism

How is it different from 

e-governance 

• e-governance has been fancied by many to be an automatic panacea for the delays in 

governmental process 

• e-governance has mainly spread on departmental levels inheriting the legacy of 

departmentalism, making the promise of transparency and speed in implementation 

even more elusive 

• Without innovative and practical thinking e-governance remains digitizing of 

departmental inefficiency 

• While e-governance is more inspired by the IQ the I-governance relies heavily on EQ 

(Emotional Quotient) 

– Essentially speaking e-Governance + empathy= I-Governance 

• Thus e-governance is an integral part of I-Governance but I-governance is much more 

than that.

Why we need I-Governance 

• The innovative thinking is conspicuous by its absence in most of the 

govt planning and execution, viz 

– Why can’t we link the dole based schemes with inflation 

– Why the old age pension scheme is for the persons more than 65 years in age, 

when the average age in India is less than 65 years 

– Instead of giving Rs 100/- per month per SC Girl, why cant we enrol them in the 

Janashree Bima Yojana 

• This way we can cover many times more beneficiaries in much less amount. In fact we 

can cover all girls not just BPL and SC girls, we can even cover all the boys in the ZP 

schools as well as all the students studying in the ITI. 

– And there are many more such examples where a little innovative thinking could 

not only save lot of government’s scarce resources but can also give benefits to 

many times more number of beneficiaries

I-governance is Imperative 

• Because 

– On Global Innovation Index India has slipped from 23 position in 2007-2008 to 

56 th position in 2009-10 

– While China has risen from 12 th position to 3 rd position in the same time period 

– The number of patents filed by Indians is miniscule compared to all the other 

progressive countries 

– In last 500 years all the path breaking innovations like Railways, 

Telecommunication, Space technology, nanotechnology, and so on have come 

from the western world and none from India 

• We need to start developing an innovative way of functioning as soon as 

possible because 

Nothing dies faster than an idea in a closed mind 

• In this background let us have a look at what we have achieved in

What Gadchiroli is… 

• Highly underdeveloped- Lowest HDI in the state 

• Highly disturbed- Highest incidence of Naxal violence in 

the state and one of the highest in country 

• Highly inaccessible- Dense forest cover and lack of 

physical connectivity 

• But extremely beautiful, pristine and untouched by the 

reckless modernization 

• Basically a clean slate!

What Gadchiroli is going to 

be… 

• I-District 

– From e-Governance to I-Governance, 

where I stands for ‘Innovative’ 

– Outstanding performance in the field of 

MGNREGS and Forest Rights Act, 2006 

• Innovations made during the implementation 

made it possible 

– Two types of innovations 

• Innovations in the use of IT in administration 

• Process optimization

Innovative Use of IT 

• IT based Disaster Management System 

– e-Flood Alert Project 

• Control Room for constant flood situation monitoring 

• CUG Mobile distribution under disaster management cell 

• SMS based Flood Alert System (includes a query module 

to monitor in between scheduled alerts) 

– SMS based Water level monitoring in the 

Observation Wells 

– SMS based Blood donor information and 

registration system 

– Wild life monitoring system and automatic pumping 

system at bore well of drinking water for wild 

animals. 

– e-News

Process Optimization 

• Innovations in the Public Distribution 

System 

– Implemented 

• GPS Tracking of PDS Trucks 

• SMS based information system 

– Proposed 

• Mobile ration shop 

• DWAR POCH for whole district 

• Direct supply of grains from FCI godown to the 

FPS 

• Increase the remuneration for the truckers


• Innovations made in the 

implementation of the MGNREGS 

– Implemented- 

• Project e-Disha- Financial Inclusion in 

MGNREGS: Use of Business Correspondent 

Model and the biometrics 

• Call Centre 

• Adult Literacy 

• Skill development projects 

• Mobile Crèche


• Innovations in the implementation of 

the MGNREGS 

– Proposed 

• Financial cover for the beneficiaries 

• SHGs should be allowed as a unit for NREGA work 

• Crèche under NREGS Scheme 

• Increase the sharpening charges of the tools 

• Grant of powers of Technical Sanction 

• Literacy Missions for the beneficiaries 

• Convergence of Forest Right Act 2006 with 

MGNREGS

Other Innovations 

• Janshree Bima Yojana and Aam Admi 

Bima Yojana 

• Convergence of Social Security 

Schemes 

• District Development Fund

ICT based Disaster 

Management Plan 

• Scenario before the plan was 

implemented 

– Biggest Danger of Natural Disaster 

• FLOODS: As Gadchiroli is surrounded by Large 

rivers from three sides 

– In days of Summers 

• Shortage of water becomes a big problem 

– Shortage of Drinking water for men and animals both 

– Shortage of water for irrigation 

– Acute lack of necessary infrastructure like 

Hospitals, Blood banks, Flood alert system 

etc

ICT based Disaster 


• Strategy adopted to deal with the situation of floods 

• e-Flood Alert 

• Control Room and Call Center was established of Disaster 

Management Cell, in Collector’s office. 

• Emergency Ambulance services with VHF-GPS for flood havoc for 

river bank area people. 

• CUG Mobile distribution to head persons of the villages located on 

river banks. 

• GSM based flood monitoring system for pre-alert SMS of current 

water level of river. 

• E-News system for daily updates of flood in media person of district 

and state level.

The Schematic of the e- 

Flood Alert As 

implemented in Gadchiroli 

Flood Monitoring 

equipment at Wainganga 

river, Wadsa

e-Flood Server Screen

Other Status messages are as 

following 

• River water flow is normal level: 

means it is safe for transportation, no 

need to panic 

• River water flow is above normal 

level: means it is safe but be alert 

• River water flow is danger level: 

means be alert for flood situation 

• River water flow is above danger 

level: Flood Alert 

The Flood server has been in sync with the SMS server 

- The SMS server contains number of thousands of important officials and other 

citizens of the district and is used to broadcast messages of importance in the 

district 

- The information is available on demand to anyone sending an SMS to 54242

ICT Based Disaster 


• GSM based water level measurement 

system in the Observation Wells 

through Mobile SMS 

– reverse principle of the flood alert system, but 

the hardware remains more or less the same 

– very useful in sending out the warning 

regarding an impending drought.

GSM based water level measurement system in the Observation 

Wells through Mobile SMS 

Kurkheda OB Well Lekha Menda OB Well



• Wild life monitoring system and automatic pumping system at bore 

well of drinking water for wild animals (Proposed) 

– Automatic pumping system through Mobile SMS at forest bore well 

– Inside the forests drinking water ponds have been constructed and are filled with 

the bore wells and electric pumps 

– The water level sensor automatically triggers an SMS regarding its present level 

and also can be used to switch ON and OFF the borewell motor. 

– The camera installed on the site can be used as a monitoring equipment for the 

wild animals coming to drink water on the site. 

– This system can prevent lot of deaths of wild animals in the forest due to the 

water scarcity in Summers



• E-news system: for daily updates of all major 

happenings to local people of Gadchiroli ,district 

administration and media person of district and state 

level 

• Launched web portal www.e-warta.org, in this portal 

district administration upload the latest news of 

Gadchiroli. 

• Started e-SMS system, collected the cell no data from 

BSNL and subscription facility on web portal

Screenshot of e-News Website



• SMS Based Blood Donor information and Registration 

facility 

– Putting the SMS technology mastered in above projects to 

further use 

– Gadchiroli has just one blood bank and that too is in highly 

dysfunctional state 

– Very helpful for providing instant health services to victims of 

any accident, requirement of blood 

– On the same model Eye donor information has also been 

made available on the SMS

Blood Donor’s Enquiry

Blood Donor’s Registration



• 24x7 Free Health Call Center 

– Toll free phone service activated 

(1056) 

– Call center Track the movement 

of Ambulance and Mobile 

Health Units 

– Team of Medical experts in the 

center has been deployed. 

– Quick Health Guidance on Call. 

– Pass on the message for 

Ambulance service.

Innovations made by the 

Project 

• No expensive technology involved 

• The know how is available locally 

• Taking advantage of the booming cellular 

connectivity 

• Burst SMS methodology covers multiple 

stakeholders at one go

Innovations made by the 

Project 

• Single number and single umbrella of Disaster 

Management Cell provides single window disaster relief 

mechanism to citizens 

• The VHF-cum-GPS based tracking of important 

government vehicles ensures efficient and transparent 

service delivery on a continuous basis 

• Multiple use of modules viz SMS server, GPS based 

tracking, Water Level Monitoring System provides the 

necessary value for money to make it a viable and 

replicable model

Innovations in the Public 

Distribution System- Implemented 

• Problems 

– Pilferage 

and Proposed 

– Presence of TDC as an additional player in 

the PDS system of Gadchiroli 

– Lack of Godowns 

– Wasteful expenditure 

– Inaccessible areas 

– Poor morale of transporters due to sub 

optimal payment for transportation



• GPS tracking 

and Proposed 

– All PDS trucks fitted with VHF and GSM based GPS 

• Provides seamless connectivity irrespective of the network conditions 

– Provides real time information on the whereabouts and the halting 

time and frequency of the trucks 

– Control Room for tracking all GPS fitted vehicles established at 

District Headquarters 

– GPS fitted not only on the Kerosene carrying trucks as per the Govt 

regulations but also on the grain carrying trucks

A Screen Shot of GPS based Vehicle tracking module based on 

Google Earth



and Proposed 

• SMS based PDS Information System 

– As soon as the truck leaves the Godown the SMS carrying its details is shot off to 

all the stakeholders viz the FPS dealer, eminent people of the village and other 

ration card holders 

• Proposed innovations in the PDS system 

– Mobile ration shop 

– DWAR POCH for whole district 

– Direct supply of grains from FCI godown to the FPS- 

• Due to existing system lot of duplication takes place due to loading and unloading at both 

the FCI godown and Taluka godown before the PDS material leaves for FPS 

• In many instances the PDS truck travels much longer than the actual distance between 

the FCI godown and the FPS shop, resulting in huge wastages in transportation cost 

• Increase the remuneration for the truckers plying on the difficult and long routes into the 

sensitive talukas

Innovations made in the 

implementation of MGNREGS 

• Many innovations effected and many more proposed 

• Project e-Disha 

• Financial Inclusion in MGNREGS: Use of Business 

Correspondent Model and the biometrics 

– Major purpose is to overcome the hurdle of woefully deficient 

banking infrastructure and introduce transparency in the 

system 

– All the beneficiaries have been given smart cards/Bio metric 

ID cards and payment is made through Banking 

Correspondent 

– Payment slip on the lines salary slip is also issued to the

Financial Inclusion in the 

MGNREGS

People registering for the Smart 

Card 

Collecting the Biometric Data of 

the beneficiaries

Distribution of MGNREGS payment by 

the Banking Correspondent

Innovations made in the 


• Call Centre- A facility of the MGNREGS Job Card 

Holders to find out about the availability of the Jobs 

in their area and in the whole district as well 

• Adult Literacy- Classes are being organized for 

the workers coming to the MGNREGS site 

• Skill development projects- To help workers 

migrate from unskilled labor category to skilled 

category 

– Viz Training of preparing shoots/saplings to SHGs

Mobile Crèche Project - successfully implemented on Pilot Basis 

and awaiting the Government’s permission for a full fledged roll out

Proposed Innovations in the 


• Financial cover for the beneficiaries- The amount of accident benefit be increased from Rs. 

50000/- to Rs.75000/-. 

– Further it proposed to enroll the workers in the National Health Insurance Scheme and Janshree Bima 

Yojana with a provision for paying the beneficiary’s contribution by the administration itself. 

• SHGs should be allowed as a unit for MGNREGS work- The act must have a provision where 

some works can be allotted to the SHGs on the similar pattern as it is done to individuals. 

– Viz the Self Help Group (Mahila Bachat Gat etc.) can be entrusted the job for developing nursery & plantation 

which will provide employment to large numbers of poor villagers. 

• Crèche under NREGS Scheme- We propose is that the crèche should be considered as a work 

under MGNREGS itself. Under this head both individual as well as SHGs should be allowed to run 

it. 

• Regarding the sharpening charges of the tools- Under MGNREGS there is a provision of Re 2 

for sharpening of their tools. Under MGNREGS mostly the laborers use traditional tools and 

minimum Rs.5/- is being paid for sharpening their tool. We propose that the sharpening charges to 

be increased to at least Rs 3.

Proposed Innovations in the 


• Grant of powers of Technical Sanction- Technical Sanction to works under 

MNREGS by the forest department is being done as per the provision of Govt. 

Resolution of Planning Deptt. No. MREGS-2007/CR-24/EGS-1, dated 27 May,2010. 

which delegates very inadequate powers 

– We propose that the Divisional Conservator of Forest, Wadsa, be given the power of 

Technical Sanction to works under MGNREGS upto Rs. 25.00 lakh; Rs.5.00 lakh to Asstt. 

Conservator of Forest at sub divisional level and Rs. 3.00 lakh at Tahsil level should be 

granted immediately. 

• Literacy Missions for the beneficiaries- To prevent the Job card holders from being 

fooled by some unscrupulous govt servants and panchayat workers, we propose to 

introduce the adult literacy programmes for workers onsite itself. 

• Convergence of Forest Right Act 2006 with MGNREGS- The performance of 

MGNREGS in conjunction with the FRA 2006 will decide the quantum of development 

that Gadchiroli sees. The synergy arising out of the convergence of these programs 

will have a multiplying effect on the benefits accruing from both the schemes.

Other Innovations 

• Janshree Bima Yojana and Aam Admi Bima 

Yojana- the students of ITI and other colleges 

were instructed in the benefits of these 

schemes and they were encouraged to bring 

their parents also in the ambit of the above two 

schemes. 

• Convergence of Social Security Schemesbeneficiaries 

of the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar 

Yojana will be issued I-Cards as senior citizens 

for making it easier for them to avail all the 

benefits available for the senior citizens viz 

concessional travel passes etc.

District Development Fund 

The fund was created out of the one day salary contribution of the govt 

employees of the district 

To provide insurance cover of Rashtriya Swashta Vima Yojana by 

depositing the amount of public participation of BPL families. 

To provide insurance cover of Janashree Bima Yojana for NREGS 

labours & other eligible persons. - 3087 

As a part of this scheme initially benefit of Janashree Bima Yojana 

insurance cover is given to 1109 Kotwals, Police Patil and Gram 

Panchayat Employee & Forest labours 

It proved a very effective tool of bringing people closer to the 

administration

Analysis for the purpose of 

Evaluation 

• Simplification of the Procedure- The spirit behind the innovations that we have 

effected in the district of Gadchiroli is to simplify and demystify the systems. 

– SMS based flood alert has made the evacuations timely and effective. 

– The single number for all types of emergencies makes it easier for the citizens to get the relief 

through one single window. 

– The GPS tracking of the vehicles viz PDS trucks and ambulances ensures the accountability 

of their movement makes the tracking much simpler and more effective. 

• e-Governance- the technology is just a tool, what matters most is what we make out 

of it. 

– Using simple innovations we have introduced technology at the crucial fault lines in the 

administration. 

– The SMS based information system not only helps citizens in accessing information it also 

helps in ensuring the better decision making by the officials. 

– The VHF based GPS tracking has effectively provided the solution to the lack of mobile 

connectivity in large areas of the district. 

– The EGS helpline provides a very useful service to the MGNREGS in keeping track of the

Analysis for the purpose of 

• Reduction in unproductive expenditure- 

Evaluation 

– By using automated solutions based on the GSM SMS system, we have reduced lot of expenditure that was to 

be incurred in movement of persons to all the remote areas of the district. 

– The system is powered by the Solar Panels thereby reducing the cost of electricity in the long run. 

– The immediate feedback from the Flood sensors has helped the administration in avoiding costly rehabilitation. 

– By implementing the proposed innovations in the PDS system we can save hundreds of crores every year which 

are spent by the FCI in unnecessary movement and loading and unloading of its trucks. 

• Making the administration citizen centric- 

– Due to the immediate response of the disaster management teams this year hundreds of citizens were saved 

from the fury of the floods in the district. 

– Due to the GPS tracking of the PDS trucks the pilferage of PDS material has reduced. 

– The SMS based system to track the movement of the trucks further instills confidence in the citizens regarding 

the PDS material destined for their village. 

– The innovations made in MGNREGS in convergence with FRA have benefitted thousands of families in reaping 

the benefits of both the schemes. 

– The facility of Mobile crèche has enabled the mothers who could not come to work as they could not leave their 

children behind.

Objective Parameters met by 

the project 

• Replicable- We have introduced ICT where it mattered the most. At every step we 

have documented each and every step involved in our innovations, that is why they 

are so replicable. 

• Easily Implementable- Our innovations are not only simple in nature but are very 

easy to implement also. We have put together available pieces of technology to create 

customized solutions to the most basic problems of the administration. 

• Benefits which are measured quantitatively- 

– Thousands of people in the vulnerable areas evacuated in time due to the propmt warnings 

coming from the SMS based e-Flood alert system. 

– There are already thousands of people registered on the blood donor SMS based information 

network. And it is just the start. 

– The initiatives that we have launched are poised to create sustainable livelihoods for 

thousands of families in Gadchiroli.

Objective Parameters met by 

the project 

• Implementable by all the levels/other departments- The innovation is not a technology, it’s a 

fresh way of looking at the problems. 

– Our initiatives are aimed at not only creating innovation centers in the administrative machinery but in the 

general public as whole. 

– Throughout the implementation we have learnt from the people and provided them with the solution they are 

asking for. 

• Direct benefit to the public- these initiatives are aimed at providing direct benefit to people. 

– The video conferencing using VSAT technology is benefitting thousands of students across the district. 

– The SMS based alert system is not only useful in water level measurement but it can act as a drought alert as 

well. 

– The SMS based pumping stations in the forest going to provide a facility for counting tigers in the sanctuary. 

– The blood donor information and registration facility can be God send in times of need, as there is no blood 

bank in the district. 

• Successful implementation- The project has seen implementation of many of its major initiatives 

but many more are proposed. And as goes with the innovation, the more you innovate the more feel 

like innovating. One out of the box solution leads to another and that’s what has been our 

experience in the innovative district of Gadchiroli.

Our Vision is to make GADCHIROLI from 

Most Backward to Most Innovative 

Most underdeveloped to Most Welfare oriented 

and 

Most beautiful to Even More beautiful….

I-District: GADCHIROLI - Collectorate, Gadchiroli

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