Good Governance Index of Maharashtra

Why in News

Good Governance Index report was unveiled by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, emphasizing the importance of improving the “ease of living” for citizens. The report highlights key steps the government is taking to improve access to government services, using technology, and enhancing governance through data-driven initiatives. It also includes measures to address human-wildlife conflict and sustainable development in the state, with a focus on people-centric governance and performance improvements in various sectors.

Relevance for UPSC (GS Paper II and III)

  1. Governance and Accountability:
    • This initiative ties into discussions on good governance, public administration, and the role of technology in governance.
  2. Sustainable Development and Environment:
    • The inclusion of environmental initiatives such as carbon credits and urban afforestation. It reflects the integration of sustainability into state-level governance.
  3. Human-Wildlife Conflict:
    • The measures proposed for mitigating human-wildlife conflict using artificial intelligence.

Key Highlights of the Report and Governance Initiatives

Focus on Good Governance

  • Ease of Living: The report underscores that good governance is directly linked to how easily citizens can access essential government services. Simplifying this process is essential for ensuring better quality of life for citizens.
  • 100-Day Performance Plan: Chief Minister Fadnavis directed all departments to create concrete 100-day plans, emphasizing technology-driven and people-centric schemes to enhance governance and service delivery.

Key Measures and Initiatives

  1. Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation:
    • The Forest Department has been instructed to use artificial intelligence and information technology to address growing human-wildlife conflicts, particularly related to increasing leopard populations. This includes moving leopards to sanctuaries in other states as needed and expanding leopard shelter capacities.
  2. Sustainable Development and Carbon Credit:
    • The state has proposed establishing a carbon credit company to promote environmental sustainability and combat climate change. This initiative reflects Maharashtra’s commitment to environmental governance.
  3. Urban Afforestation:
    • The state government is encouraging the Miyawaki method of tree plantation in urban areas to increase afforestation and improve green cover, addressing the challenges posed by urbanization.
  4. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare:
    • The Agriculture Department is advised to implement schemes with a strong focus on farmer welfare, ensuring that agricultural policies are tailored to meet the needs of the farming community.
  5. Education and Global Collaboration:
    • The Higher and Technical Education Department aims to attract foreign universities to Maharashtra, promoting international collaborations and creating educational complexes to enhance the state’s educational infrastructure.

Aaple Sarkar Platform:

  • The Aaple Sarkar platform, a citizen grievance redressal initiative, is a key tool in Maharashtra’s push for people-centric governance. The platform enables citizens to access government services, file complaints, and seek solutions from various departments.

District Good Governance Index:

  • It evaluates governance performance across 161 parameters and more than 300 data points in various development sectors. It provides a measure of the performance progress of districts, helping to identify areas for improvement in governance delivery.

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