Chapter 9: Leading India towards Techade

Introduction

• Participation in governance is one of the characteristics of good government. As 66% of the population is under the age of 65, young participation in governance is essential to the development of civic skills and the sustainability of long-term communities.
• Government launched the MyGov App, which centres the citizen.
• As the greatest democracy in the world, Sarvodaya and Antyodaya principles are deeply ingrained in Indian culture.
• Sarvodaya, which signifies the rise and upliftment of every citizen, is a composite word made up of the words sarva (all) and udaya (rise/uplift).
• The last person in line to rise is said to be doing an antyodaya.
• Participatory governance is essential to achieving Sarvodaya and Antyodaya and is the foundation of democracy.

Need for Participatory Governance

• It is not sufficient to have effective government alone; it must also be proactive and pro-people. People are at the centre of progress because of good governance, according to PM Modi
• Citizens' participation and voice in the creation, implementation, and governance of policies that affect or have an effect over them are the foundation of participatory governance.
• The involvement of individuals helps respective governments create appropriate action plans at all levels, from the district to the national level.
• When society as a whole has widespread access to knowledge, the government is more effective and makes better decisions.

MyGov App:

• By creatively utilising the internet, mobile apps, IVRS, SMS, and Outbound Dialing (OBD) technology for connecting with the population, MyGov has adopted different engagement methods like discussions, tasks, polls, surveys, blogs, speeches, pledges, quizzes, and on-ground events.
• Also, MyGov launched State instances in 19 States and has more than 2.9 crore Saathis registered (companions).
• The core of MyGov's outreach programme is its focus on young people. MyGov promotes Jan Bhagidari or participative governance by:
• Information Dissemination: MyGov serves as a one-stop shop for citizens and aids in connecting with the target audience. Effective distribution not only ensures the efficient transfer of new knowledge but also raises awareness and promotes cooperation.
• Transparency: MyGov serves as a one-stop shop for rapidly and digitally submitting nominations, which fosters a sense of trust and confidence among citizens.
• Transparency encourages accountability and informs the public about the actions taken by the government.
• Fact-checking: MyGov informs citizens of official announcements and facts.
• Collaborations: MyGov facilitates government-citizen and citizen-citizen partnerships. On "ideas," like-minded citizens can collaborate.
• MyGov serves as a fantastic networking resource for people who want to make a difference.