Maharashtra mandates five governance reforms to make public services fully digital; details here

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

The Maharashtra government on Monday mandated five key Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) reforms across administrative departments to streamline public services, eliminate the need for physical visits to government offices, and significantly reduce approval layers.

Under the new framework, departments have been directed to utilise databases such as Aadhaar, Maha-Samanvay and DigiLocker to auto-fill application details while restricting approval chains to a maximum of three levels to speed up decision-making, reported PTI.

Five reforms to improve public service delivery

According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the state Planning Department, every administrative department must adopt the five guiding principles while preparing proposals under the Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) initiative to make public services and welfare schemes more accessible, transparent and efficient.

Departments have also been instructed to ensure that citizens no longer need to make physical visits to government offices by relying on online verification and validation systems.

Aadhaar, DigiLocker and Maha-Samanvay to simplify applications

The government has directed departments to keep application forms as simple as possible by auto-filling or auto-fetching information from Aadhaar, Maha-Samanvay and other government databases wherever feasible, reported PTI.

The resolution further states that mandatory documentation should be minimised by using government databases through API interoperability and DigiLocker. Physical copies of documents should not be sought where digital records are available, while self-declarations should be given preference wherever applicable.

Approval process capped at three levels

To accelerate decision-making, the state government has ordered that approval chains be restricted to a maximum of three levels, with the responsibilities of each approving authority clearly defined.

Departments have also been instructed to reduce the time taken to process applications and deliver services by increasing the use of technology and prescribing revised timelines under the Right to Services (RTS) Act.

Chief secretary-led panel to oversee implementation

The resolution states that a state-level GPR Approval Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, will be constituted to examine and approve process re-engineering proposals submitted by administrative departments.

The committee will also validate new digital workflows, revised application forms, documentation requirements and approval structures.

MahaIT to implement digital systems on priority

The government has authorised secretaries of administrative departments to issue the necessary procedural changes, government resolutions, circulars and guidelines for approved proposals in cases that do not require legislative amendments or high-level policy decisions.

The resolution further directs MahaIT to implement the required digital systems and make necessary modifications to government portals on a priority basis.

(With PTI inputs)