Orissa has quietly but surely upped its way in people’s perception based on its groundbreaking citizen-centric policies, the latest being the 5T model. The 5T model is an upgrade from the 3T model of governance which Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had introduced earlier.
The 3Ts of governance- Teamwork, Transparency & Technology led to the fourth “T” called Transformation, on which the fifth one called Time is the latest addition. Its aim is improving governance and ensuring efficient delivery of public services.
While introducing the latest “T”, the Orissa Chief Minister, now in his fifth successive term, cited the State’s success in evacuating people on time during Cyclone FANI; its successful hosting of Asian Athletics Championship within 90 days of it being awarded the hosting honour; and the nationally applauded the farmers’ welfare scheme called KALIA in 15 days, besides other schemes executed well in time.
One of the Departments that has implemented the 5T initiative is the ‘Jalasathi’ programme which is being implemented in eight wards of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) under the 5T initiative of Housing and Urban Development.
An official on condition of anonymity told Asom Barta over phone that the 5T model is the fulcrum of Governance in Orissa. “All departments in the State are evaluated on the basis of 5T now,” he said.
The Education Department in the State is also using 5T to good effect. It is targeting the involvement of elected local bodies, SMC/SMDC and alumni for infrastructural transformation in schools, reshaping the school processes thereby making schools happier learning places. In two years, the initiative has led to transformation of infrastructure besides motivated and confident students, teachers and parents, coming from the hinterland of the State.
The importance of the project for the Government can be gauged by the fact that 5T has been made a Department with former IAS officer and V K Pandian heading it with a Cabinet Minister status.
The Government is judging performance of various projects as well as of officials in the way they have used 5Ts.
The success of the model was reflected when the Good Governance Index 2021 brought out by the Centre put the State at Number One in two categories—human resource development, and economic governance in the category of “Group B States. Besides, the State has improved its Good Governance Index score from 4.44 in 2019 to 4.85 in 2021.
Officials are hopeful that the objective of the 5T charter which the Chief Minister has envisioned will be achieved in a New Odisha:
- Where poverty will be a thing of the past
- Where women are equal partners in growth and development.
- Which is inclusive of all vulnerable sections in its landscape of development.
- Where the dreams of our youth come true.
