New Delhi: Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and several other key departments, highlighted the significance of digital empowerment for citizens, including the elderly and pensioners, as a crucial aspect of governance reforms. Chairing a joint meeting in New Delhi with the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), and Department of Pensions & Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW), Dr. Singh underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing public service delivery through technological advancements.
Dr. Singh articulated the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” initiative, affirming that the ministry would persist with the reforms initiated over the past decade. “Citizens remain at the center of our reforms. Our goal is to bring ease of living to the public by ensuring efficient service delivery, creating a robust grievance redressal system, and enhancing digital governance with new-generation technologies,” Dr. Singh stated.
Focus on Modernizing Governance
The Union Minister directed officials to align recruitment and service rules with contemporary needs, incorporating digital technologies to make systems future-ready. He emphasized the necessity for unique competency-building programs to increase government efficiency, highlighting the priority of revamping training structures to optimize government employee performance.
Dr. Singh also advocated for the integration of emerging technologies such as Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Augmented/Virtual Reality into governance reforms. “Our aim is to create a self-motivated environment for public servants to utilize the I-Got platform and elevate Mission Karmayogi to new heights,” he remarked. Reviewing the Digital Learning Lab at ISTM, New Delhi, he stressed the importance of E-learning and capacity building as integral to career progression for employees.
Enhancing Public Service Delivery
Addressing the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Dr. Singh proposed the creation of a Good Governance Index for central ministries to foster cooperative competition and replicate best practices. He lauded the DARPG’s success with CPGRAMS, a globally recognized grievance redressal mechanism, and urged its replication in other areas. The Minister also called for enhanced ‘e-office’ implementation to ensure end-to-end digitalization and improved public service delivery, alongside a structured mechanism for swift resolution of vigilance matters through new technology.
Support for Senior Citizens and Pensioners
Reviewing the Department of Pensions & Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW), Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of digital empowerment for senior citizens by unifying pension rules to bring ease of living. He praised the National Digital Life Certificate (DLC) campaign for pensioner welfare and encouraged continued efforts with greater zeal. The Minister also emphasized the integration of the Bhavishya portal with banks and the importance of conducting Pre-Retirement Counseling Workshops to aid pensioners in their post-retirement years. He stressed the need to use the Bhashini platform to communicate with citizens in their mother tongue, making language an enabler rather than a barrier.
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