Approach 12 FYP - Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management

Innovation 139
runs and adjustments in its design, this system, generally called the Results Framework Document(RFD),
is now adopted by almost all ministries at the centre. Some State governments have also begun to adopt
this approach.
16.18 An extensive innovation ecosystem requires many lateral connections, often at local levels, between
producers, sellers, and financiers, and the facilitating government machinery. Sweden has a region-wise
process of participation of citizens and enterprises in formulating the innovation agenda. In a much larger
and more diverse country, as India is, development of the innovation ecosystem must be even more widely
devolved. Therefore NInC is encouraging the States to set up State Innovation Councils to stimulate
the ecosystems for innovation in their states. Currently, 13 State Government have constituted State
Innovation Councils. Using the broad templates suggested by NIC they will develop interventions to suit
their state’s specific needs. In this way the national Innovation agenda will combine with other thrusts for
improvement of governance and service delivery described elsewhere in the Approach to introduce more
flexibility and innovation in centrally sponsored schemes and thus improve the efficiency and inclusiveness
of the growth process.
Information and Communication Technology
16.19 Innovative programmes and policies are required at the Centre as well as in the States for ICT
to permeate rapidly in the country and enable India to achieve its goal of more inclusive and faster
growth. The country must provide affordable and accessible education, skill development, healthcare, and
financial services, very rapidly and on a very large scale. Moreover, citizens are demanding improvement
of governance with greater efficiency in delivery of public service and greater transparency. Information
and Communication Technologies (ICT) can enable the improvements and innovations necessary for
providing affordable and accessible social sector services. The expansion of Aadhar numbers through
the UIDAI, and the associated opening of bank accounts, which can be accessed remotely opens up the
possibility of transferring benefits to the beneficiaries directly. Pilot programme to apply this to kerosene,
LPG and fertiliser are being designed. If successful, the experiment can be extended to the PDS. This will
require improvement of connectivity and bringing broadband services to India’s villages. The development
of innovative service delivery and business models will also be necessary. Indian capabilities in the software
industry are recognised around the world. However these capabilities have not been vigorously applied
to domestic opportunities so far. Moreover, the large opportunity for expansion of ICT services in India
should attract foreign technological capabilities. The Twelfth Plan must stimulate widespread deployment
of ICT in the country to accelerate inclusive growth.