What is 5T & ‘Mo Sarkar’ ?
The 5T initiative is a citizen-centric governance mechanism, adopted by the Odisha Government that analyses the performance of government officials and projects through factors such as teamwork, technology, transparency, transformation and time limit.
‘Mo Sarkar’, which means ‘My Government’ in Odia, is a transformative initiative of 5-T programme, which was introduced by Naveen Patnaik after he returned to power as the Chief Minister of the state for a fifth consecutive term.
The 5-T mantra is based on the philosophy that transparency, teamwork, technology and time leads to transformation.
Under the new initiative, the chief minister and other ministers talk to common citizens to seek their feedback on the kind of response and service they received after they visit government facilities.
In short we can say that ‘Mo Sarkar’ or My Government is the Odisha government’s citizen-centric project that takes feedback from ordinary people regarding their experience at the government-run facilities in the state.
Key points
- It was launched on 2nd October 2019 on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by the Odisha Government.
- It is based on the 5T Model of Governance i.e technology, transparency, teamwork, transformation and time-laid.
- The program, in its first phase, was implemented in all police stations and district headquarters hospitals and later taken up by all other departments.
- The Mo Sarkar was launched at all police stations across the State along with 21 district headquarters hospitals and three government-run medical college hospitals at Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur.
- The programme was effective at all the 30 district headquarters hospitals of the State.
Objective
- To provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offices for different purposes.
- To make the governance people-centric.
- To bridge the gap between the highest political decision-maker in the state and the most far-flung citizen.
- To fix the governance gaps in the state machinery.
Feedback Mechanism
- The phone numbers of people who are coming to government offices will be collected randomly with the purpose to improve the governance system by collecting feedback on behaviour and professionalism of government officers.
- The ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative mandates that anyone visiting these offices would have his mobile number registered in the ‘Mo Sarkar’ portal.
- The Chief Minister, Departmental Minister, Director General of Police (in case of police stations) and Departmental Minister, Secretary and Director (in case of hospitals) will call on random numbers to collect feedback.
- The employees will be ranked as good or bad on the basis of the feedback and those with good rank will get out-of-turn promotion and action will be taken against employees with bad rank.
Significance
- 5T Model of Governance is based on the philosophy that technology, transparency, teamwork, time-laid leads to transformation.
- Necessary efforts towards sensitizing the officials have been taken up.
- The extension of ‘Mo Sarkar’ or My Government initiative to the industries and MSME (micro, small & medium enterprises) departments is expected to speed up the pace of fresh investments.
- In addition to industries and MSME departments, the Mo Sarkar initiative is also covering key agencies and corporations whose functions are intertwined with the two departments.
- This initiative has brought significant changes in overhauling the complete Education system specially the infrastructure of Government Schools.
Criticism
However, 5T has come under criticism from opposition BJP in Odisha. One of the BJP MP has targeted Odisha Government over its 5T model of governance and said it is a ‘known fact’ that it’s not an innovative programme.
“Odisha Government’s 5T model of governance is not something new. Different types of 5Ts are in effect at several places. The State Government has just taken a rehashed version of it by using five management principles,” the BJP MP had said recently.
Criticising the State Government over its 5T initiative, the opposition MP said there was no need to create a separate ‘power centre’ for the programme as it would undermine the efficiency of other departments
NITI Aayog endorses 5T charter of Odisha Government
Even as the 5T charter of Odisha Government has come in for strong criticism from the Opposition BJP, NITI Aayog has endorsed the programme launched to bring transparency and provide good governance.
“Odisha has adopted a 5T agenda to transform education system, achieve the goal of all children at grade-appropriate learning level in a school environment that is conducive and engaging,” the tweet by NITI Aayog said.
Conclusion
The Government has introduced the 5T (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Time leading to Transformation) initiative in the State, as part of its efforts to provide good governance. The initiative is to take administration to the door step of the people.
The 5T charter of the Government has been introduced as a governance model to find out how far the administration has been able to reach people in a transparent and timely manner. Adherence to 5T charter is now the top priority of Odisha Government for which a separate department has been created.
The 5Ts, along with Mo Sarkar, are now two top initiatives of the State Government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ensured that all departments have been brought under ‘Mo Sarkar’.
Inspite of it’s implementation in almost all the departments of Govt. Of Odisha and the simultaneous criticism from the sections of Opposition political leaders, the intention of Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik & his most trusted bureaucrat V. Karthikeyan Pandian who is the 5T Secretary as well as PS to CM is highly commendable and is appreciated among the common citizens of Odisha, the most growing state of Eastern India. This initiative will have a long term positive impact in bringing transparency in governance and enhancing the state to the path of growth.
Article by : Nandlal Singh – State Convenor of BJD Aapravasi Sammukhya. Please send your feedback through email – nandlal.satyagraha@gmail.com