Gomati is one of the developing districts of Tripura, with a population around 4.42 lakh. Gomati District Administration introduced an initiative ‘Unnatisheel Gomati’ in August 2014, which envisioned the path of a ‘Progressive Gomati District’. Various Central and State Government schemes emphasise the need for convergence. This initiative immensely helped building a synergy in developmental activities, with a participatory model that involved the administrative machineries – as well as the citizens.

Working on the philosophy that “benefits of synergies in administration can be immense, if the sharing and pooling of resources is done in right approach and direction”, Gomati District Administration has tried to create visible and durable assets in the district, improve the income level and welfare of people, ensure better service delivery and encourage community participation in development.

Challenges

Gomati being a remote district has in fact many disadvantages than a plain area. The District also has a complex scenario in implementing various rural development programmes, since both Gram Panchayat and Village Committees/ADC & Non-ADC areas co-exist there.

The next big impediment was the imperfect ground-level coordination between Panchayat Samiti and Block Advisory Committees. The inefficiency reached further in confused jurisdiction of both these and Zila Parishad, Chaired by an elected. In that backdrop, the vision document ‘Unnatisheel Gomati’ was implemented – and it brought desired changes.

Solution

Under the broad ambit of ‘Unnatisheel Gomati’, seven important governance practices are being followed in every set-up and at implementation level of the District Administration to achieve the desired goals:

• Convergence between various departments and deriving benefits from synergies.
• Capacity building of administrative officials and PRI bodies.
• Community participation and active mobilisation.
• Effective monitoring mechanisms.
• Citizen friendly and people oriented administration.
• Promoting IT and e-Governance.
• Streamlining of office systems and improvement of work culture.

Outcomes

For instance, in Killa ADC Village, during last two years, roads of 6 km length were constructed under MGNREGS. A number of drinking water tanks were constructed during 2014-15 to ensure availability of good quality drinking water to the villagers. 93 beneficiaries from both APL and BPL categories have already been provided individual household latrines and rest without having hygienic toilets identified and shall be provided IHHL within next one year to make Killa ADC village an ODF village. 93 IAY house were provided during last three years to eligible BPL households who were shelterless.

In East Karbook ADC Village, by developing wasteland into farmland – and by providing irrigation facility in these lands, ‘Jhum Cultivators’ were made settled cultivators. This has given them new identity and sustainable livelihood.

The targeted population under this project is all the people of this district. The main aims of the initiative were to give better service to people of this section of society. It succeeded doing that, if these marked achievements to be counted:

• No drop-outs reported in any school of the district.
• Instance of deliveries at home have reduced during the last few years.
• All Aagwandi Centres (AWC) has toilets and water sources.
• All schools have toilet facility and drinking water facility.
• All habitations are covered by drinking water sources.

Other indicators like infant mortality rate, polio coverage, literacy has considerably improved during the last few years due to this holistic approach of the State Government.