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Technology for social change_ Samadhan_ VSO India
- 1. ‘SAMADHAN’: citizens’ action for governance in India VSO’s experience of using ICT to increase accountability and transparency Purna Kumar Shrestha VSO International 27 September 2013
- 2. 2 • The Right to Information (RTI) Act was introduced in 2005 • New laws have been introduced to provide the most economically disadvantaged sections of the population with government subsidies, food and employment security. Contexts
- 3. 3 Many people in India remain unaware of these rights, or do not know how to exercise them Vast amounts of people are not accessing food, security, pensions and education entitlements Problems
- 4. 4 Launched on 26th of August 2011 A joint initiative of the district administration of Koraput, United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), VSO India and South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA) Catalyst : SAMADHAN - Citizen’s Action for Governance
- 5. 5 Aim • To create a citizen’s monitoring hub to hold the government of Orissa accountable and bring citizens and the government together on one platform, using technology Aim and objectives Objectives • To provide an accountability framework to marginalized and poor people to monitor the various flagship programmes implemented at Panchayat level • To develop a platform at district level to gather information and strengthen quality of services delivered by the district administration
- 6. 6 • Conducting a baseline survey • Identifying and providing training to 100 volunteers • Conducting a series of district level and block level advocacy and awareness programmes • Developing information, education and communication ( IEC) materials in local languages • Community mobilisation Activities
- 7. 7 Lodge complaints about government services and monitor delivery of services By simple text message (SMS) By calling in at a toll-free number By visiting the District Collector’s office to demand By filing complaints through SAMADHAN How does SAMADHAN work ?
- 10. 10 Grievances Source No. of Grievances Acknowledged Open Resolved Closed SAMADHAN MOBILE 339 307 243 49 46 SMS 264 197 169 32 29 Toll free Number 1077 268 131 91 27 23 MONDAY GRIEVANCE 867 788 737 219 214 TOTAL 1738 1423 1240 327 312 Grievances and Redressal of Grievances
- 11. 11 Results • Establishment of a primary school in Bandhia Guda village of Kundra Block • 56 households with a population of 267 • 43 are children in the age group of 6 to 14 years • No primary school • The nearest Primary school is at village Uduluguda which is at a distance of 2 Km from Bandhia Guda. • Approached Block office of Kundra to set up a Primary school in their Village. • In November 2011, they formally registered their grievances through toll free number of SAMADHAN which reached directly to the District Administration • District Primary Education Programme finally has given approval and sanctioned the project to start a primary school in Bandhia Guda Village
- 12. 12 • Population of 180 people with 48 households • No provision of electricity in the village • The village was already electrificated in the record • Villagers formally lodged their grievances in SAMADHAN Platform through SAMADHAN Mobile Number in October 2012 • 29th of October 2012 near about 20 villagers from Tentuliguda along with the VSO Volunteers met the District Collector • 9th of November 2012 : the electrification work of the village has been sanctioned Electrification in Tentuliguda
- 13. 13 • Once the complaints are registered at 1077, neither updates of the complaints are available nor are the records maintained properly • The Geographical accessibility of the villages is another hindrance • People are hesitant to call 1077 because it involves cost (Free for only BSNL to BSNL) Challenges
- 14. Thank you ! Purna Kumar Shrestha Global Education Research and Advocacy Adviser VSO International Purna.shrestha@vsoint.og
Editor's Notes
- The Right to Information (RTI) Act was introduced in 2005 to tackle the problem by allowing citizens to request any information (other than defence and national security) from government bodies
- Despite a recent law to stamp out corruption in Indian governance there are still major obstacles standing between citizens and their state entitlements
- A web based and communication based tool to not only register complaints and grievances but also immediately direct corrective action while enabling proper tracking of all cases It is an internet-based platform primarily for citizens to directly demand and track their service entitlements under national and state government schemes SAMADHAN is being piloted in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh and Koraput District in Orissa. VSO is supporting this initiative in Orissa. What started as the germ of an idea in 2010 between The United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), VSO India, South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA) and the Government of Odisha This citizens monitoring hub was given the name ‘SAMADHAN’, which means ‘satisfaction’ in Hindi. Citizens can access the service via their landline , mobile phone (in total one billion mobile phones have been sold in India) or computer The SAMADHAN platform was launched by the Chief Minister of Orissa Sri Naveen Patnaik on 26th of August 2011
- a simple text message, call in at a toll-free number or visit the District Collector’s Office to demand or file complaints through SAMADHAN
- November 2011, they formally registered their Grievance through toll free number of SAMADHAN which reached directly to the District Administration. The matter was later transferred to DPEP department, who has studied the Grievance with utmost importance. After giving due considerations, the DPEP department has given approval and sanctioned the project to start a primary school in Bandhia Guda Village. Now site selection work has already been completed. The construction work of the School Building is underway. Villagers are also cooperating wholeheartedly in this noble cause and in particular, role of the community is very positive and commendable.
- Geographically it is located in the uppermost portion of Deomali Mountain Range and it is one of the most inaccessible areas of the Block. Villagers kept following up with the Sarpanch many times, but all were efforts turned futile. Villagers decided to raise the issue in the Panchayat kept following up with the Sarpanch many times, but all were efforts turned fruitless. decided to visit the Executive Engineer’s office at Similiguda to enquire about the matter The village was already electrificated in the record The DC then had a meeting with SDO (Electrical) and told him to look into the matter. The Junior Engineer of Damanjodi inspected the village and recommended for Installation of 25 poles in order to provide electricity in the village. The JE submitted a detailed Feasibility Report in this regard to SDO, Electrical. The Report in turn reached District Collector’s Chamber. After receiving the Report, a high level committee led by the District Collector decided to visit the place. On 09th of November 2012, the committee visited Tentuliguda Village. Based on the JE’s Report and with the recommendation of the Committee, the electrification work of the village has been sanctioned