Resource Convergence: the New Mantra

For the welfare and development of citizens, especially for those living in
rural areas, the Indian government runs scores of schemes and programs.
Unfortunately, these programs fail to achieve the set targets. An important
reason behind the failure of these schemes is that a majority of schemes run
under different umbrellas.

The central and state governments, at present, run over 2,000 schemes, and
more than 40 agencies are deployed to execute these. Most schemes have similar
goals, objectives, and target audience. Despite the fact that the government
allocates enormous sums of money (between Rs 800-1200 crore per district
annually) for these schemes, programs remain ineffective in serving their
purpose as resources are thinly spread over several implementing agencies, with
no focused approach or planning. As a result, resources remain unutilized,
leading to corruption.

To address various problems that come in the way of successful implementation
of government programs, Aruna Sharma, joint secretary, NHRC, has come up with
the concept of resource convergence. Resource convergence is based on the
process of identifying correct resources for a thrust activity and adopting a
system-based approach for achieving the desired objectives. I reviewed various
methodologies and felt a strong need for an ICT tool which will help sort the
2,000-odd schemes targeting similar objectives and beneficiary groups. The need
was also felt for a mechanism to ensure holistic planning for all components for
the selected thrust activities. Thus, a resource convergence model was worked
out, recommending a paradigm shiftfrom planning for schemes to planning for
activities, says Sharma. Based on the concept of resource convergence, Sharma,
in association with the Foundation of Resource Convergence and IIT Bombay, has
designed an ICT tool, Gram Drishti.

The Model

The tool consists of three moduleslibrary, planning, and Gram Drishti.

The library module is used to create a library of thrust activities,
components, and schemes. The planning module has four levelscountry, state,
district, and block. It has the facility to make financial allotments at
different levels, planning facility of the thrust activity, and tracking the
action plan.

Gram Drishti is a desktop GIS application with an indigenous GIS engine,
conceptualized for easy usage for various departments to view their activities
on a map. The tool is an outcome of the resource convergence mantra and uses
GRAM++ components, and its own database. The mission was to create a tool that
is cost-effective and to make a ready to use application with ready to use
digitized maps, and the ability to see user-created data as per the hierarchy at
different levels of governance.

Trends

The Gram Drishti tool, which gives ICT tools, windows-based GIS, and helps
execute schemes in five thrust activities, requires Rs 2 mn per district. The
tool results in better utilization of funds80% as against 40%. The outcomes are
qualitative and sustainable. More importantly, the tool helps in bringing
transparency, and results in active participation by people and elected
representativesfrom panchayats to the Parliament.

The tool has been adopted in many districts by proactive collectors/CEOs and
donor agencies. The major challenge is to merge schemes which have common
objectives and beneficiary groups, to bring in ease of operation.

Sharma says, The project is a change of mindset and it is important to
involve the corporate and banking sectors to ensure qualitative, sustainable
outcomes in proportion to the financial resources made available.

The revised edition of the resource convergence model is being supported by
the United Nations Development Program and is listed as one of the outcomes of
the country programs of the UNDP for the period 2008-2012.

Sandeep Sharma

sandeeps@cybermedia.co.in