Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s SMART Governance Again
(Management Guru CK Prahalad
was all praise
for his innovative use of
IT in Governance)
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
The Hans India
(16-06-2024)
{He (Chandrababu Naidu) transformed an orphan like IOA
(Institute of Administration), renaming it as Dr MCR HRD Institute after the
demise of former CM Channa Reddy, and placing it on top of global training centers.
He leveraged Information Technology (IT), initiated e-governance, established
e-Seva centers, streamlined government services, and presented good and smart
governance and public service delivery facility. His IT initiatives provided
incredible opportunities to youth in large numbers in obtaining lucrative
employment with better placements abroad, especially in USA.} – Editor Hans
India Note.
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, on assuming charge as Chief
Minister of Present Andhra Pradesh, second time, in a brief meeting with IAS,
IPS Officers who came to greet him, subtly reprimanded and admonished his
predecessor YS Jaganmohan Reddy's Governance.
Frankly Speaking, by being not at all harsh, he
established an innovative convention while criticizing previous Government. He emphasized
that, it led to a significant decline in administrative values and ethics,
undermining the very integrity and efficiency of officers, including those who perhaps
were in service, when he was CM of erstwhile AP. It was but natural to a person
of Chandrababu Naidu’s moral principle, to remark so. People familiar with his SMART
Governance (Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent)
initiative, during his two terms as CM of Erstwhile AP, will only understand his
style.
My 9 years stint as Faculty and Additional Director in
Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development (MCR HRD) Institute {Earlier Institute
of Administration or IOA}, provided me an insight and opportunity to observe
Chandrababu Naidu demonstrating extraordinary interest, aptitude, and ability with
remarkable commitment to SMART Governance, and ‘Systematic Training.’
Supported by DG PVRK Prasad, ADG Urmila Subba Rao etc. he transformed an Orphan
Like IOA, renaming it as Dr MCR HRD Institute after the demise of former CM
Channa Reddy, and placing it on top of World ‘Training Centers.’ He
leveraged Information Technology (IT), initiated e-governance, established
e-Seva centers, streamlined government services, and presented ‘Good and
SMART Governance’ and ‘Public Service Delivery Facility.’
His IT Initiatives provided incredible opportunities to youth in large numbers,
in obtaining lucrative employment with better placements abroad, especially in
USA.
Chandrababu Naidu, apportioned significant time, to
place strong emphasis on ‘Training and Capacity Building for Government Employees’
as per National Training Policy (NTP) guidelines. Once, when I
accompanied ADG (IOA Still) Urmila Subbarao with ODA (DFID) delegation in
1996-year end to meet CM Chandrababu Naidu, he shrewdly seized the opportunity to
request the delegation, to fund IOA in identifying best practices and develop
replicable models for Good Governance. Urmila Subbarao drafted initial
proposal. Little did we realize then, that our meeting would lead to
establishment of ‘Centre for Good Governance (CGG)’ in 2001, in
the sprawling campus of HRD Institute, in collaboration with Department for
International Development (DFID) and World Bank. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair inaugurated
CGG and spent quality time in the campus, including one-to-one meeting in the
Guest House with CM Chandrababu Naidu.
In a subsequent meeting of ours with him, CM Chandrababu
Naidu approving ADG Urmila Subbarao’s suggestion, mooted the idea of ‘Training
Need Analysis’ of Five Lakh Government Employees, through OMR (Optical
Mark Reader) sheets, first of its kind, to realize NTP concept of ‘Training
for All’ (TFA). Until then IOA training was not systematic. Immediately
on PVRK assuming charge as HRD Director General (DG), by which time the OMR format
based ‘Training Needs Analysis’ was half way through, I
accompanied PVRK to meet CM Chandrababu Naidu on receiving a call from him, who
despite being busy watching exit polls of Lok Sabha Elections, wanted to know
the progress of OMR activity. PVRK who just joined and being not aware of OMR
activity, discussed with me on the status (ADG Urmila Subbarao was on leave then),
and provided details to CM.
That was the genesis for massive ‘State Training
Initiative’ (STI), that not only changed the entire complexion of ‘Capability
Building,’ but also, ‘Capacity Building.’ STI was to
build capacities of providing at least 60 hours of training to each State
Government Employee. Dr MCR HRD Institute, was entrusted with the mandate of
developing human resources, to fulfil manpower requirements of State
Government. Institute’s infrastructural facilities like Training Rooms, Video
Conference Hall, Building Complex Extension to three floors, World Class
Auditorium, Guest Houses, Hostel facilities, Microsoft IT Academy etc. were completed,
and brought to the ‘State of Art’ level. The Institute, transformed
into ‘Centre of Excellence,’ has the imprint of Chandrababu Naidu,
DG PVRK Prasad and ADG Urmila Subbarao.
Systematic Identification of Individual, Functional
and Organizational Training Needs was completed. Training Modules including
video based were developed. District Training Centers were established. Separate
Training Budget Head (1.5% of salary budget) was made.
In this context, the saga of Administrative Reforms’
initiative in India, in which Chandrababu Naidu played vital and practical role
was motivating. On the threshold of ‘Fifty years of Indian Independence’
a conference of CMs presided over by the then Prime Minister Gujral was held on
May 24, 1997. It discussed an Action Plan for providing ‘Effective and
Responsive Government’ ensuring Responsive, Accountable, Transparent
and Citizen Friendly Administration at all levels. Before him, Deve Gowda
initiated a National Debate in Chief Secretaries’ Meet in 1996. Formulation of ‘Citizen
Charters’ and ‘Grievance Redress Mechanism’ were
prioritized in the Action Plan.
The National Agenda for Governance announced by
Vajpayee, who succeeded them, included paragraphs exclusively on reforms. Brain
behind all the three initiatives was Chandrababu Naidu. With his three years’
experience by then as CM, besides pushing them at National Level, he bestowed
personal attention, evinced keen interest, and implemented in AP in letter and
spirit. Formulation and zealous implementation of Citizen Charters, and initiating
Effective and Speedy Public Grievance Redress Mechanism were made mandatory in
all government departments. Board of Governors of Dr MCR HRD Institute, headed
by CM, decided on 26th November, 1998, that the Institute would coordinate and
facilitate formulation of Charters. DG PVRK Prasad, ADG Urmila Subbarao and ADG
Sethy who joined later, converted the intention of Babu in to Effective and
Efficient Action Plan. I was involved in the whole process, especially in
Module Design.
At a time when MCR HRD launched STI and was in search
of high-profile Master Trainer, DG PVRK Prasad, processed a proposal to bring MP
Sethy the ‘Top Ranker Master Trainer’ who had undergone training
in Thames Valley University (UK) and responsible for designing many Trainer
Training Programs in the country and associated in drafting ‘National
Training Policy’ on deputation from his parent ‘Indian Naval Stores
Management Service’ where he was in a senior position.
At one stage, PVRK preferred intervention of CM Chandrababu
Naidu, to speak to Defense Minister George Fernandez to expedite the process. That
clicked positively and Sethy, joined the Institute in a Senior Position and
soon Institute’s Capacity and Capability function touched sky high. The message
was, in times of need, that was how Chandrababu intervened in accomplishing the
task, which paid rich dividends in training. Sethy, currently Advisor to IIM
Calcutta, even after completion of his term in MCR HRD, and after his
retirement, accepted visiting assignment in the Institute.
When Training was recognized as an identified priority
area, to seek commitment of HoDs, who included senior IAS Officers, a unique three-day
‘Orientation to Management of Training’ (OMOT) Module was
designed, developed, and implemented by me and Sethy. Since it was driven by CM
Chandrababu Naidu himself, and DG PVRK Prasad, about 200 IAS, IPS and non-cadre
Officers attended. This paved way in realizing ‘Training for All
(TFA)’ concept. Interestingly, after 1999 Assembly Elections, guided by
Chandrababu Naidu, entire State Cabinet including CM, undergone a three-day
training program at HRD Institute on various aspects of Governance, the ‘First
of its Kind.’ It was designed, developed, and coordinated by DG PVRK,
ADG Urmila, and assisted by me.
Management Expert and Padma Bhushan Awardee, Coimbatore
Krishna Rao Prahalad (CK Prahalad) when visited Dr MCR HRD Institute, commended
Chandrababu Naidu's IT initiatives, innovative use of technology in governance,
enhancing public services, economic development, positioning Erstwhile AP as
leader in e-governance and digital transformation.
Better, if the Speed, Velocity and Acceleration of CM Chandrababu
Naidu is sustained, and the 25 years’ Ago Reform Initiatives are looked afresh.
