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For the welfare and development of citizens, especially for those living in rural areas, the Indian government runs scores of schemes and programs. Unfortunately, these programs fail to achieve the set targets. An important reason behind the failure of these schemes is that a majority of schemes run under different umbrellas.

The central and state governments, at present, run over 2,000 schemes, and more than 40 agencies are deployed to execute these. Most schemes have similar goals, objectives, and target audience. Despite the fact that the government allocates enormous sums of money (between Rs 800-1200 crore per district annually) for these schemes, programs remain ineffective in serving their purpose as resources are thinly spread over several implementing agencies, with no focused approach or planning. As a result, resources remain unutilized, leading to corruption.

To address various problems that come in the way of successful implementation of government programs, Aruna Sharma, joint secretary, NHRC, has come up with the concept of resource convergence. Resource convergence is based on the process of identifying correct resources for a thrust activity and adopting a system-based approach for achieving the desired objectives. I reviewed various methodologies and felt a strong need for an ICT tool which will help sort the 2,000-odd schemes targeting similar objectives and beneficiary groups. The need was also felt for a mechanism to ensure holistic planning for all components for the selected thrust activities. Thus, a resource convergence model was worked out, recommending a paradigm shiftfrom planning for schemes to planning for activities, says Sharma. Based on the concept of resource convergence, Sharma, in association with the Foundation of Resource Convergence and IIT Bombay, has designed an ICT tool, Gram Drishti.

The Model
The tool consists of three moduleslibrary, planning, and Gram Drishti.

The library module is used to create a library of thrust activities, components, and schemes. The planning module has four levelscountry, state, district, and block. It has the facility to make financial allotments at different levels, planning facility of the thrust activity, and tracking the action plan.

Gram Drishti is a desktop GIS application with an indigenous GIS engine, conceptualized for easy usage for various departments to view their activities on a map. The tool is an outcome of the resource convergence mantra and uses GRAM++ components, and its own database. The mission was to create a tool that is cost-effective and to make a ready to use application with ready to use digitized maps, and the ability to see user-created data as per the hierarchy at different levels of governance.

Trends
The Gram Drishti tool, which gives ICT tools, windows-based GIS, and helps execute schemes in five thrust activities, requires Rs 2 mn per district. The tool results in better utilization of funds80% as against 40%. The outcomes are qualitative and sustainable. More importantly, the tool helps in bringing transparency, and results in active participation by people and elected representativesfrom panchayats to the Parliament.

The tool has been adopted in many districts by proactive collectors/CEOs and donor agencies. The major challenge is to merge schemes which have common objectives and beneficiary groups, to bring in ease of operation.

Sharma says, The project is a change of mindset and it is important to involve the corporate and banking sectors to ensure qualitative, sustainable outcomes in proportion to the financial resources made available.

The revised edition of the resource convergence model is being supported by the United Nations Development Program and is listed as one of the outcomes of the country programs of the UNDP for the period 2008-2012.

Sandeep Sharma
sandeeps@cybermedia.co.in

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