sk/mdm/1 convergence and coordination in the context of the mid day meal scheme convergence and...

SK/MDM/1

Convergence and Coordination

In the Context of the Mid Day Meal

Scheme

Convergence and Coordination

In the Context of the Mid Day Meal

SchemeProf Sushil Kumar, PhDIIM Lucknow

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Convergence and Coordination In the Context of the Mid Day Meal Scheme

alongwith Some Thoughts on Solutions relevant to Convergence and Improvements

in MDM and Some Useful Information Technology Interventions

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Convergence• A Scheme itself provides Aspects of Convergence• Convergence is a tricky issue• Analyze for Successful Convergence of schemes• Mid Day Meals and its Various Aspects : A Re-look for developing Convergence

• Objectives of MDM• Beneficiaries• Stakeholders• Processes and Resources in MDM (would help in identifying what is required so as to develop on what could be converged / coordinated with other schemes)

CoverageCoverage

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Relevant Schemes and Areas that can have convergence/ coordination with MDM

1. ICDS2. Health Checkup and Intervention Schemes eg. National

Rural Health Mission3. MGNREGA, MPLAD, MLA-Constituency funds,

Panchayati Raj Deptt., Deptt. of Drinking Water and Sanitation etc.

4. Convergence with Disaster Management Authorities at District, State and National levels

5. Monitoring and Performance Management Area• Some Thoughts on Solutions on Convergence and Improvements in Mid Day Meal Scheme• Some Useful Information technology Solutions

IndexIndex

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‘Convergence’ in the context of schemes is pooling together of the resources and execution of existing schemes and resources, rather than the creation of a new scheme with additional resources

Convergence and Coordination amongst schemes / interventions from separate agencies/departments.It would help in:

• Elimination of the duplicate work for same end objective• Better use of resources for achieving what is desired• Holistic Approach for development• Synergy between government, NGOs, the private sector

and beneficiaries in addressing community needs.

ConvergenceConvergence

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Convergence mechanisms need to identified, incorporated and implemented in

• Policymaking,

• Programme / Scheme design

• Execution for optimum utilization of funds/ other resources

• Monitoring of personnel, resource utilisation, Actual Outcomes Vs. Expectations

ConvergenceConvergence

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5W1H Questioning Technique What Where When Who How and…Why?

Scheme Formulation and Various Details Scheme Formulation and Various Details Provide the different aspects for Provide the different aspects for Convergence with other schemeConvergence with other scheme

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• Larger / Macro level requirement of the society / nation• Who the Scheme is for

• Beneficiary Identification• Why the Scheme

• Issues • Needs• Objectives

• What would be the intervention• Delineation of requirements (What is required to be Done)

• What are the Results/outcomes expected and in what time-frame• Where to implement

• Geographical Coverage

Any Scheme Has to be formulated Any Scheme Has to be formulated keeping in view keeping in view

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• When to intervene and launch• Timelines

• How is the Scheme going to be implemented / operationalised• What would be the resource requirements• Feasibility• Pilot to test the hypothesis of improvements because of scheme interventionsor Full Roll-outWhen the different schemes in operation or being launched are analysed in above terms the threads emerge for the "Convergence" and "Coordination".

Any Scheme Has to be formulated Any Scheme Has to be formulated keeping in view keeping in view

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Convergence seems easy but is a tricky issue because of Schemes are formulated and implemented by :

• Different agencies,

• Different people design these

• Are born due to different logics and Motives

• Move through different hierarchies for approvals

• Have different budgets and funds

• Have different resource-bases for execution

• Have different implementation strategies

Convergence is a tricky issueConvergence is a tricky issue

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One needs to analyze different aspect of the scheme to find the areas/aspects of the scheme where it can benefit through convergence with components of other schemes like :

• Objectives,

• Stakeholders,

• Beneficiaries

• Processes and Resources Requirements,

• Execution Methodology etc.

Analyze for Successful Analyze for Successful Convergence of SchemesConvergence of Schemes

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Identify Schemes with somewhat common….• theme and objectives

• coverage (target beneficiaries, geographical area)

• implementation or execution strategies

• Information technology Systems for implementation help, for Monitoring help etc.


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• Identify the type of convergence with each of the scheme identified

• Whether other schemes’ funds can be budgeted in some other schemes • MP-LAD, MLA-LAD for tapping of various works benefitting MDM directly or indirectly• Whether Direct or Indirect Infrastructure required for the current scheme can be created under different schemes:

• Drinking Water Facilities indirectly benefit quality MDM implementation• Handwashing and Toilets Facilities indirectly benefit quality MDM implementation


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Construction of cleaning infrastructure like waste water

drains/outlets, Boundary-Wall construction Ex.: Convergence with MGNREGA

Kitchen-Shed Construction Ex.: MP-LAD, MLA-LAD

• Whether maintenance of infrastructure benefitting MDM

directly / indirectly can be taken up in coordination with other schemes Whether purchases of sundry machinery, material can be undertaken in coordination with other schemes. Eg., Utensils Replacements in schools


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• Different aspects and implementation issues to be anticipated. And the solutions developed for anticipated issues beforehand preferably at the Central and State Levels.

• Feedback loop must be implemented for quick feedback from field on what works and what does not and to find solutions accordingly.

• Implement quality Information technology Systems for this


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• Brainstorming and coordination amongst the top decision makers and clear guidelines on convergence to be stipulated

• Lots of scope has to be provided for learning from the fields. • Quality Information technology Solutions, e.g., Service Cloud can make substantial difference in collection of ideas, suggestions, information, their collation and resulting Analytics


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Mid Day Meal Scheme and Its Mid Day Meal Scheme and Its Various Aspects : A Re-look for Various Aspects : A Re-look for

developing Convergencedeveloping Convergence

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Objectives of MDM •Improving the nutritional status of children in classes I – VIII •Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly• Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.

MDMS : A Re-look for developing MDMS : A Re-look for developing ConvergenceConvergence

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• Beneficiaries• Stakeholders

A Re-lookA Re-look

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1. Planning processes• Target beneficiary identification • Intervention Parameter Identification

• eg. How many calories for the target age-groups• What should be the menu to ensure nutrition as well as palate-worthiness

• Forecasting and Planning for resources• Arrangement of Resources (Funds, Food-grains etc.)• Scheme Implementation Methodology, Rules and Regulation• Planning for improvements in the Implementation

• Feedback Loop Creation for incremental planning improvements

A Re-lookA Re-look

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2. Food Related Processes: 3. Cooking Method

4. Cooking Process

5. Delivery and Serving Process

6. Fund Arrangements

A Re-lookA Re-look

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7. Quality of the meals to be maintained

8. Disaster Management

9. Capacity building, Sensitization, and training processes.

10. IEC processes

11. Performance Management and Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Assessment processes.

A Re-lookA Re-look

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Relevant Schemes with which MDM can be / should be coordinated for

better results

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Objectives : Issues :

Synergies with MDM that can be gainfully exploited :

Let the centers be co-located with schools

• Let the hot cooked meals to be cooked with Mid Day Meals

• The Cloud telephony and Cloud Computing based "Daily Monitoring System" which has been used to monitor the Mid Day Meal Scheme implementation in Uttar Pradesh can be gainfully deployed / extended to the monitoring of hot-cooked meals in ICDS Scheme

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes1. ICDS:Hot Cooked food for Children of 3-6 years

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1. ICDS : Hot Cooked food for Children of 3-6 years,

Suggestion :Cooking also be done under MDM with the funds allocations being provided to the MDM from ICDS at the state level and then sending the funds to the schools electronically. Similarly food-grains distribution can be planned for.

Advantages :• Better Quality meals to children in 3-6 years of age• Regularity of meals would be much higher• Lesser chances of mis-utilisation of funds


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• ICDS is funded by a separate Ministry in the Center and by separate departments at the state level.• Malpractices• Moving the centers to preferably in Govt Guest houses.

Around 90,000 centers are reported to be run in primary /

upper-primary schools in Uttar Pradesh

The Cloud telephony and Cloud Computing based ‘Daily Monitoring System” which has been used to monitor the Mid Day Meal Scheme implementation in Uttar Pradesh can be gainfully deployed / extended to the monitoring of hot-cooked meals in ICDS Scheme


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2. Health Checkup and Intervention Schemes eg. National Rural Health Mission, Health Deptt. (CHCs (Community Health Centers) and PHCs (Primary Health Center))


better results

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Exp. : Aashirwaad Yojna in Uttar Pradesh as part of NRHM in Uttar Pradesh• Team of doctors have been constituted • Team is supposed to visit the AWC / Primary or upper Primary School for medical check-up of children What should be also taken care of while developing Convergence and Coordination with MDM which would help better MDM implementation• Team should do check-up of cooks also.• SOPs (Standard Operating procedures) to be developed in case of medical issues being identified• The DMS Cloud Framework can be enhanced to monitor such visits and for knowing how many children were covered and accordingly an MIS for the same. (In fact his has been done and is awaiting nod for roll-out)

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes2. Health Checkup and Intervention Schemes

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Health related disasters can be coordinated with the network of PHCs, CHCs and district hospitals • Identification Procedures for common pesticides etc. that can be used deliberately or erroneously mixed with meals in MDM • Stocking of anti-dotes for these common pesticides • Development of SOPs for handling such eventualities and availability of documentation on the same at school, PHC, CHC and district hospital levels• Training of Medical and Para-medical Staff on handling of such eventuality • MDMS to be put as a topic in the regular training module of the Medical and Para-medical Staff.

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes2. Health Checkup and Intervention Schemes

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3. MGNREGA, MPLAD, MLA-Constituency funds, Panchayati Raj Deptt., Deptt. of Drinking Water and Sanitation etc. for using funds for Creation of Infra. in schools benefitting MDM in particular


better results

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• KitchenShed, Toilet can be covered under MGNREGA• Labour Required can be covered under MGNREGA • If Material Component falls short then the rest of the funds to be brought from somewhere• Issue of Requirement Generation and being taken up in the Shelf of Projects in MGNREGA• Issue of Design and in which part of school the construction should take place. • Issue of who controls the execution and who is responsible for the quality of construction

• Boundary-Wall of the school• Buying of required Utensils through schemes like MPLAD, MLA-Constituency funds etc.

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes3. MGNREGA, etc….

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4. Convergence with Disaster Management Authorities at District, State and National levels


better results

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Why this is important :Bihar Tragedy in Mid Day meals : On 16 July 2013, at least 23 students died and dozens more fell ill at a primary school in the village of Dharmashati Gandaman in the Saran district of the Indian state of Bihar after eating a Midday Meal contaminated with pesticide.

A pro-active approach on disaster management could have prevented this unfortunate tragedy or in worst case could have reduced this large mortality

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes4. Convergence with Disaster Management Authorities

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Disaster Management Framework in India• Disaster Management Act passed in 2005 by the Parliament• NDMA set up as the Apex Body with Hon’ble PM as Chairperson• SDMA at State Level headed by Chief Minister• State Executive Committee (SEC), headed by Chief Secretary, will coordinate and monitor implementation of National Policy, National Plan and State Plan.Approach •Paradigm Shift from Response Centric to a Holistic and Integrated Approach.•Backed by Institutional Framework and Legal Authority•Supported by Financial Mechanism, Creation of new Funds, i.e., Response Fund Mitigation Fund at National, State and District level•Development of Disaster Management Plans at each department level


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What should be done for convergence and coordination with Disaster Management Institutional Frameworks for preventing disasters and managing / containing the disaster if it happens…• Disaster management Plan for MDM to be developed in coordination with State and Central Disaster Institutions / units and Medical Experts (Identifying potential pesticides and their ant-dotes etc. and their purchase and stocking, retiring and replenishments)• Training Workshops on Disaster Management of District, CHC and PHC Healthcare staff

• Funding for this can be tried with State Disaster Management Authority

• Training Material development on Disaster Management for school staff and its distribution

• Funding for this can be tried with State Disaster Management Authority


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5. Performance Management and Monitoring

Relevant Schemes with which MDM can be / should be coordinated for better results

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There are several examples where the Convergence benefits other schemes by using the Performance management and Monitoring Systems used in MDM. This has been made possible because of the following facts :

•MDM is implemented by Basic Education Directorate / Department in most of the states. The same personnel also implement other schemes like Sarv Shiksha Abiyaan, Right To Education etc. though one or two dedicated staff at the district and division level are appointed solely to look into the matters of MDM. •This provides opportunities of Convergence in Monitoring and Management of several schemes of the Basic Education as the implementing personnel are often tasked with implementation of several schemes together.

Relevant SchemesRelevant Schemes5. Performance Management and Monitoring

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• Hence the performance of the personnel and post / office (eg. Block Education officer is a post and its office looks after the MDM implementation in the corresponding block in Uttar Pradesh) has to be evaluated trough various Performance Indices (PIs) in which performance indices of the MDM can be added. This would help analyze MDM specific performance. • The MME (Management, Monitoring and Evaluation funds in the MDM scheme are often not used in the states and can be gainfully deployed to support large Information technology implementations for Performance Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation and Impact Assessment, Work Execution platforms etc. for several of the schemes in the Basic Education Department.


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Examples :

1. Teacher Attendance Management Using the ‘Daily Monitoring System (DMS)’ Cloud Telephony and Cloud Computing MIS and DSS Framework in Madhya Pradesh

• The pilot is being done by UPDESCO in two blocks of Madhya Pradesh initially.• The DMS is the same platform which has been very successful in the state of Uttar Pradesh and has won several awards.• The system involves calling up school headmasters (or teacher thereafter in hierarchy, to collect the data on the total number of teachers absent as well as well as the data on who is absent

Implementer : UPDESCOStatus : Pilot being rolled out in November, 2014


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Examples :

2. Leave Management System using the underlying "Daily Monitoring System" Cloud Telephony and Cloud Computing MIS and DSS Framework in Uttar Pradesh

• The system extends and builds upon the DMS Cloud Framework.• The systems provides opportunities to the teachers to request Casual Leaves through SMS, Missed Calls, Mobile Phone Apps and Web based Interface• This is expected to reduce harassment of teachers in grant of their casual leaves by higher authorities.

Implementer : UPDESCOStatus : Pilot being rolled out in November, 2014 pending approval from Directorate and Department of Basic Education


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Examples :

3. Monitoring, Evaluation And Impact Assessment and Work Execution Platform and their integration to provide comprehensive Performance Management Cloud framework

UPDESCO in Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated two comprehensive Cloud Computing based Frameworks viz. :• Monitoring, Evaluation And Impact Assessment and • Work Execution Platform • These have been integrated to provide a comprehensive Performance Management Framework and Platform.Implementer : UPDESCOStatus : These systems have been demonstrated to the authorities and currently are awaiting approval from the Governing Body of the Mid Day meal Authority in Uttar Pradesh


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Examples :

4. Citizen Engagement and Service Cloud System This system implemented either out of the MME funds in MDM or out of funds from any of the schemes related to Basic Education sector would benefit all schemes like MDM, SSA, RTE and other schemes of the Basic Education in states.

Implementer : UPDESCOStatus : In-principle approval recieved by Director, SSA in Uttar Pradesh from the state government. System being presented to Chief Secretary on Nov. 3rd, 2014 before being rolled out.


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• Requirement Generation (ie, what is required to be done for better MDM implementation)

• Prioritization of the requirements in view of what could be done with the budgets available and what should be planned for next year

Summary of Convergence / Coordination in MDMSummary of Convergence / Coordination in MDM

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• Involve Academic Institutions..• Use IIMs and IITs for macro as well as Micro Plan preparation• Use Private Sector Institutions also They are far more in number and they are more widely spread• Use Students (not only Faculty)

• Involve NGOs and Persons of Eminence (Achievers have good ideas and even with contribution with their little time can provide ground-braking ideas)• Develop Meeting ground of Academic Institutions, NGOs, Persons of Eminence (Meeting ground does not have to be physical meetings anymore, Video Conferencing is possible now in browsers)

Some Thoughts on the Solutions Related to Convergence Development and Improvement of the Mid Day Meal Scheme

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• Heavy Use of Information Technology • Common database of families and individuals with

• Address information with geo-coding• Income Levels• Land-holdings (with Unique Kahata No.s etc.)• Habitat Boundaries

• Service needs of Individuals and Families to be captured with likely service needs over few years

• Food• Clothing• Shelter• Water• Health• Education• Legal


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• Capturing Problems encountered by Families and Intervention Required from state and other organisations (NGOs, Corporate, Socially inclined People)• Geo-coding of schools and habitats alongwith boundary marks

• Better Planning for providing resources like water etc.• Would help fight encroachments later

• Geo-Coding of Resources in Gram Panchayats / villages , Blocks and Districts

• Hand-pumps• Water-bodies, Wells and Nalkoops• PDS Shops• Bank branches• Post-Office etc.• Road Network (type of raod, width, last constructed etc.)


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• In gathering the current infra. and requirements with the schools • With slight twist : We also gather the maintenance requirements and replenishment , changing of infra. over period of time

• Use Systems capable of automatically prioritizing the target beneficiaries and their requirements with available budgets while maintaining priorities of the scheme• Use Project management Techniques and IT Systems to monitor the implementation


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• Use latest "Work Execution Systems" which are all the raise abroad eg. www.asana.com, www.podio.com, www.attasks.com etc.• They allow for tracking the progress of small tasks also and provide a backbone to measure Effort and the work completed which in turn could be used for objective assessment of performance of individual government employees• Use of Call Centers for Collecting information on unusual incidents and events and then use of the same Call Centers to inform the officials required as well as monitoring the progress of whatever was required to be done and reminding the officials concerned


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• Mobile phones have reached house-hold with very little income. Smartphones are also spreading like wild-fire. They can be gainfully used for information capture and information dissemination• Sensitisation and Accountability on the work being done by the personnel deployed • Govt. salaries are now in respectable region. • Hence the current need is to sensitise the government personnel that they should work honestly to pay-back to their employer (the government) and deliver results expected from them (as is the norm in private sector)


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• Another need of the hour is to bring accountability on whether they (the government employees) pay back to the government / society for the salary and perks paid to them.

• Bring transparency on what they did during a week or during a month in public domain to put pressure on the laggards and to bring recognition for the better ones (ie, who did what kind of innovations etc.)• Implement ‘Work Execution Platforms’ and Monitoring and Evaluation Solutions for the work being done by the government employees.


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Few relevant IT solutions being tried out in Uttar Pradesh

which can be grouped and enhanced as the IT Platforms for

monitoring the Schemes (specially relevant to the Mid Day Meal

Scheme)

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Implementer : UPDESCO

1."Daily Monitoring System (DMS)" in Uttar Pradesh ( A Cloud Telephony and Cloud Computing based MIS and DSS) (Status : Successfully running for past 4.5 years)

• With Extensions to Monitor Visit of Doctors to Schools and Anganwadis (for Ashirwaad Scheme)

(Status : Has been presented to decision makers in NRHM, Awaiting nod for roll-out)

• DMS in ICDS for hot cooked Monitoring delivery to children in 3-6 years of age group

(Status : Has been successfully running for past 3 years)

Relevant IT Solutions

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2. Beneficiary, Benefits and Scheme Management Cloud framework

• For welfare of Disabled People

(Status : Successfully rolled out)

• For welfare of Labourers and Construction Workers

(Status: Has been presented to decision makers in Labour Department, Awaiting nod for roll-out)


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3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Assessment Cloud Framework alongwith Work Execution Cloud Framework

(Status : Ready for Roll-out in Mid Day Meal Scheme and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan, Awaiting nod for roll-out)


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4. "Samvedan" Citizen Engagement and Grievance Management Service Cloud

• More than Hundred Thousand Grievances are online and are redressed in MGRNEGA

(Status: Successfully implemented in MGNREGA scheme in all the 822 blocks and 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh)

• In principle approved for roll-out in SSA in Uttar Pradesh


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sk/mdm/1 convergence and coordination in the context of the mid day meal scheme convergence and...

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