#PeopleFirst: Vasundhara Raje Model of e-Governance
Author: Sameer Kochhar & Rohan Kochhar
Pages: 165
ISSN: 978-81-932982-1-3
Language: English
Edition: First
Pub. Year: August 2018
Vasundhara Raje, who has been the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in two tenures (2003-2008 and since 2014-) has transformed the state by shedding its BIMARU tag and taking it on the road of economic progress and growth. But what is unique about Rajasthan when compared to other states, which have made a similar journey, is that she has made Information Technology and digitalization as the bedrock of this transformation.
'People First' has been the mantra of Vasundhara Raje's government. Her focus has been on the concerns and comfort of the common man. This is reflected in her policies, governance and also the way she lives. She spends more time in the villages trying to understand the demand-side of governance before devising solutions leveraging digital tools to deliver to their expectations. She has harnessed technology to deliver government at their doorstep, empowering citizenship, creating opportunities and opening up avenues for growth and investments in the state.
The state outlined a vision, adopted a multi-modal approach, strengthened and created robust IT infrastructure, rolled out citizen-centric initiatives and have inculcated Big Data, Analytics, Blockchain, 3D modeling and GIS applications.
The milestones that have been achieved are many and accolades have followed from far and wide: SKOCH to the World Economic Forum.
Sameer Kochhar, Chairman of SKOCH Group, a reforms historian. is a passionate advocate of social, financial and digital inclusion, In 1997, after spending 15 years in the corporate world, he decided to follow his inner calling and become a development thinker. Ever since, he single-handedly applied himself to the rigours of self-education, academic research and fiel tours. The SKOCH Group — which has a think tank, media and consultancy arm — was established as part of this endeavor- His expert opinion is sought by the government. In Kochhar's thinking, writings, and activities, his profound admiration for India's economic reforms — and in extension, those outstanding personalities who Strive to make these reforms more meaningful and broad-based — comes out clear and unambiguous. He is the author of highly acclaimed ModiNomics: Inclusive Economics Inclusive Growth (2014) and The Untold story of Indian Reforms (2016) in addition to fourteen other volumes.
Rohan Kochhar is Director of Public Policy, SKOCH Group. At SKOCH he has had a ringside view of India's contemporary governance and reforms history. Having led the SKOCH field research team across various states in India he has jointly interviewed public leaders such as Narendra Modi, M, Venkaiah Naidu, Maneka Gandhi, Narendra Singh Tomar and N. Chandrababu Naidu amongst others. He was previously a Consultant with APCO Worldwide in its Public Policy practice at New Delhi, where he advocated policy on behalf of C-Suite Executives Of Fortune 500 Clients. He has interned and led policy research initiatives under noted academics. ministers, bureaucrats and experts including Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, His research interests range from poverty, health, education, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihood generation to governance reforms and public management. He holds an MPA in Public Administration and Management from University College London (UCL) and a B.A. (H) Economics from Ramjas College, Delhi University.
