TThe state of Gujarat ranks second in the SKOCH State of Governance Report 2024, reflecting its strong public administration and development initiatives. Furthermore, it is also ranked fifth in the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2023 released by NITI Aayog, showcasing its financial stability and effective economic policies.
The state has consistently demonstrated excellence in governance which is indicative in the successes it has achieved, securing the second position nationally in overall governance along with topping the Health and Police & Safety categories. It is coupled with the state securing fifth position in the Fiscal Health Index for the year 2023.
Additionally, Gujarat has 14 projects that presented impactful as well as commendable work across multiple governance sectors. Along with this, District Governance as well as Forest categories have also made strong improvements in their placement on the charts with District Governance making an appreciable 4-point advancement while Police & Safety catapulted to the top position from its previous #6, driven by the earnest efforts of law enforcement and the public.
There has also been a significant improvement in Skill Development and Rural Development which made a comeback on #3 and #6 position reflecting the dedicated and concerted efforts put on welfare sectors.
There are also impactful projects which are making notable entries in Culture, Revenue and Cooperation categories, securing top 10 positions. It can be attributed to the strong economic and financial management as seen in the Fiscal Health Index, with the Developmental Expenditure of the state being over 71%, which is also the highest in the country.
Additionally, some categories have managed to maintain their excellent functioning with projects impacting people consistently, thereby receiving commendation for their continued excellence in services like General Administration as well as Transport. This continued focus on services that form the backbone for public sector functioning reflects the state's focus on ease-of-functioning and accessibility for the public.
Gujarat has also made significant strides in Municipal Governance by almost doubling the focus, in comparison to previous years. It is reflective in the initiation of several smart city projects along with a strong presence and robust functioning of renewable energy projects throughout the state.
The new entrants of Revenue, Culture and Co-operation, coupled with Skill Development and Rural Development, are indicative of the enhanced focus put in bringing about good governance initiatives as well as impact on the public thereby adding a feather to Gujarat’s cap. The Capital Expenditure of the state has also increased by 26.5% from 2018 to 2023 with a focus on education, petrochemicals, healthcare, irrigation and infrastructure. Although healthcare and infrastructure have seen noteworthy improvements, other sectors like education are yet to see the benefits transpire to grassroots level.
State's Performance in Different Sectors in Three Years
| Sector | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Police & Safety | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Ease-of-Doing Business | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Culture | 2 | ||
| Forest | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Power & Energy | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Skill Development | 3 | ||
| Transport | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Revenue | 4 | ||
| Cooperation | 5 | ||
| District Administration | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| General Administration | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Rural Development | 6 | 7 | |
| Municipal Governance | 9 | 11 | 5 |
AI-Enabled Mobile X-Ray for TB Detection in Kachchh
The disease of TB is a serious and persistent threat in India claiming lives and disrupting families every year. The state of Gujarat, in order to make treatment and diagnosis accessible for people from Kachchh region has rolled out Active Case Finding by AI Enabled Digital Mobile X-Ray-2023 project, which tackles tuberculosis (TB) in remote areas of Kachchh.
It is implemented in alignment with India’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and uses AI-powered digital mobile X-ray technology. Under the project, over 3 lakh individuals have already been screened, with identification of 279 TB cases and consequently treatment being initiated for 98 patients.
It struggled with challenges like, poor connectivity, power outages and low awareness but, through 142 awareness camps and strategic partnerships with Fujifilm India Pvt Ltd, the project demonstrated a scalable model for AI-driven TB detection.
Amrit Mehsana Startup Mission
To foster grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship in Mehsana district of Gujarat. The Amrit Mehsana Startup Mission was launched on 18 May 2023. The initiative has engaged over 10,000 students, entrepreneurs and professionals through workshops, webinars and investor meets, connecting professionals with employers.
Its major achievements include successful matchmaking of startups with investors as well as raising ₹4.25 crore during the Mehsana Startup Mahotsav thereby creating a robust ecosystem that empowers local youth to pursue innovation.
The mission, despite the challenges of infrastructure gaps and limited rural reach, aims to make Mehsana India’s largest startup hub by 2047.
e-Pass System for GSRTC
Roadways transport is arguably the most availed service for travel, in India and any innovation in these services provides ease and benefits to an equally high number of people. The e-Pass System for GSRTC, launched on 1 April 2023 aimed to modernised the concession pass process for students and daily commuters in Gujarat. This initiative streamlined the application process by allowing online submissions, e-validation with the education department and digital payments along with increasing efficiency and achieving user satisfaction by eliminating manual paperwork, long queues and redundant steps. The automated reconciliation between departments also reduced errors and the need for manual intervention thereby benefitting over 17 lakh citizens. Further, in alignment with Digital India vision, expansions like integrating project with Digital Gujarat Seva Setu for enhanced service delivery are also in the plans.
Garba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
In a hyper global world, saving indigenous arts and crafts has become an active requirement, recognising which, government of Gujarat has rolled out ‘Garba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage’ initiative, launched on 17 April 2023. It aims to promote Gujarat’s iconic Garba and Raas dance forms with the focus being on empowering lesser-known as well as women-based cultural groups. Under the initiative, participation as well as visibility was increased by organising performances as well as celebrations in high-profile cultural events like G-20 meetings and Tamil Saurashtra Sangamanam, coupled with live streaming on platforms like YouTube and Facebook. The project helped preserve and popularise these traditional dances, fostering the interest of youth and connecting rural and urban communities with these efforts leading to greater cultural engagement and enhanced recognition for local artists.
GST Seva Kendra (GSK)
The filing of taxes is an intimidating process, especially for novices or people with less knowledge who may require assistance, opening them to a myriad of financial risks.
In acknowledgment of this gap, Gujarat government rolled out GST Seva Kendra (GSK), in November 2023, with the aim of streamlining GST registrations and reducing fraud through biometric and Aadhaar authentication. There are 12 centres, which provide a uniform and efficient registration process, ensuring only legitimate taxpayers are processed while reducing fraudulent activities like fake billing. This system has simplified the registration process, improved compliance as well as protection from document misuse, for over 20,000 beneficiaries. The initiative did suffer from some technical glitches and infrastructure constraints but, transparent and user-friendly system has made it a success.
Instant Cyber Sahayata Desk & Criminal Intelligence and Monitoring System (CIMS)
The state of Gujarat has taken strides towards building synergy between digital policing and crime prevention as well as control. The initiatives such as Instant Cyber Sahayata Desk, launched in October 2022 by the Vadodara City Cyber Crime Police Station as well as Criminal Intelligence and Monitoring System (CIMS) launched also in October of 2022 by Rajkot City Police assists in issues ranging from cyber-crime to generating criminal databases.
Instant Cyber Sahayata Desk, for instance, addresses issues like loan harassment, hacked accounts, financial fraud and malicious app threats, having already assisted over 7,000 citizens. It also provides 24/7 support, a dedicated female officer and public awareness campaigns, with its commendable achievements being, resolution of 339 cases of nude video call harassment and removal of 980 malicious apps. CIMS, on the other hand, has integrated real-time crime tracking, AI-driven analytics and mobile-based field operations, with its key features including crime mapping, facial recognition, stolen vehicle tracking and predictive policing.
These models have effectively managed to accommodate public struggles with ease of environment for the complainant, improved safety, curtailing of myriad cybercrimes as well as faster case resolutions and proactive crime prevention.
Breaking the Silence – Free Cochlear Implant & Speech Therapy
The issue of hearing impairment in children significantly impacts speech, cognitive and social development and in response to it, Gujarat Department of Health & Family Welfare launched Breaking the Silence initiative in 2013, providing free cochlear implant surgeries and structured speech therapy for children under six. Under it, over 3,180 surgeries have been has successfully undertaken and performed, ensuring early intervention for improved language acquisition and social integration.
It addresses major issues like, high cost of implants, administrative delays and inadequate post-surgical rehabilitation along with encompassing a decentralised model with six regional committees to expedite approvals, reducing waiting times. Additionally, IT-based monitoring also ensures real-time tracking of cases, while speech therapy centres have been expanded for sustained rehabilitation.
The project outcomes included enhanced accessibility, faster surgeries and structured post-operative care, as well as successfully mainstreaming children into schools. The project aims to lower the surgery age below three years, increasing the number of therapy centres and implementing teletherapy to reach remote areas. This initiative has made healthcare accessible by integrating medical intervention with long-term developmental support, empowering children with hearing impairment to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
SHRBSK Health+ – Digital Health Card for Every Student
The SHRBSK Health+ initiated on 12 June 2023, is an innovative digital health project aimed at ensuring comprehensive health monitoring for 1.15 crore students in Gujarat.
The initiative integrates health and education data, providing personalised digital health records for each student, leveraging the TeCHO portal and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan data thereby ensuring regular health screenings, early detection of issues and timely interventions.
The initiation of this programme has led to creation of over 1 crore individual health records, achieving 92% success rate in quarterly screenings where previously, student health check-ups were not systematically documented, leading to gaps in tracking health progress.
The major issues to the programme included data integration, technological barriers and initial resistance to digital adoption, which were overcome through customised digital solutions and stakeholder training.
The project has significantly improved student well-being, contributing to reduced absenteeism and better academic performance. There are plans of expanding services to include mental health assessments and utilising AI-driven predictive health analytics making health services accessible as well as accommodating to the younger generation.
Figure 1: Sectors with Enhanced Focus - Gujarat
Investor Facilitation Portal (IFP)
The starting up of a new business is a daunting initiative and the its registration becomes a mountain climb with the existing processes. The government of Gujarat identified this struggle and launched Gujarat’s Investor Facilitation Portal (IFP), on 15 October 2015. It aims to simplify and streamline the approval process for businesses by offering a single-window platform for over 180 government approvals. Prior to IFP, investors faced cumbersome offline processes, lengthy paperwork and manual follow-ups, which this portal has eliminated by integrating IT solutions, allowing for online submissions, digital signatures, a unified payment system. It also features an integrated grievance redressal system, automated tracking along with SMS/email notifications to keep stakeholders updated.
The portal’s notable innovations include Common Application Form (CAF), Digi-Locker integration for secure document submission and a centralised information hub offering government policies and investment opportunities. Since its launch, IFP has processed over 13.5 lakh applications, significantly reducing approval times, increasing transparency and supporting Ease-of-Doing business. The platform has not only benefitted local businesses but has also been considered for replication at the national level, aligning with the government’s broader infrastructure development initiatives like GATISHAKTI. It is poised for further expansion with a targeted budget of ₹400 lakh.
Project Devi
The practice of witch branding has been prevalent throughout the world for ages, thereby controlling society and women. It entails accusing women of being witches, leading to physical, emotional, psychological and social torment.
Project Devi, launched on 16 August 2023, aims to eradicate the superstitious practice of witch branding in Dang District of Gujarat, along with empowering the women affected by it.
This project addresses the deep-rooted superstitions and victimisation of women by raising awareness and offering support.
The initiative’s highlighting features included publicly honouring 64 women as “Devis” during a Navratri felicitation programme, hoping to reverse the stigma of witch branding. The project also engaged local leaders, tribal priests and educational institutions to raise awareness and foster a shift in community attitudes. There is also ongoing support drives run through police-led “She-teams” ensuring that women receive emotional support and government benefits such as PM Ujjwala and PM JAY.
The project has successfully reintegrated ostracised women into society, by allowing them self-dignity and respect along with increasing awareness and active community participation. It has also contributed to a more sensitive and proactive police force and moving forward, plans to address other social issues affecting women thereby expanding its reach and impact.
Mission Milaap – Valsad
Mission Milaap was launched on 1 August 2023, with the aim of tracing, recovering and reuniting missing persons. Valsad, a district in Gujarat, has faced the problem of missing persons for a long time, especially in the adolescents and migrant sub-groups. The district’s proximity to Maharashtra and two union territories, coupled with a large migrant workforce, has led to an increasing number of missing cases. The issue was made more rampant by fertile human trafficking source in the form of vulnerable minors, which was doubly difficult to manage due to the lack of a centralised database and incomplete case records. Under the mission, a comprehensive database of missing persons was built since 2006. It also involved conducting a district wise search drive involving all police stations along with contacting complainants through phone calls, field visits and coordination with village authorities. There was also a concerted effort to track individuals through digital records and social media monitoring.
The key outcomes of this project included recovering 162 minors and 510 adults within the first 15 months. This was coupled with building a structural digital database for future tacking and sensitising police officers leading to faster response time. The project achieved this progress through data driven policing and community collaboration.
Heart Transplant Programme at UNMICRC
The heart transplant initiative at UNMICRC, launched in September of 2022, has revolutionised cardiac care by providing affordable heart transplants to patients who previously lacked access due to high costs. It focuses on overcoming financial barriers and the persistent donor shortage and has successfully conducted 33 heart transplants, achieving a remarkable 97% discharge rate. The programme has improved patient survival rates and quality of life thereby offering hope to those with end-stage heart failure.
Its main elements include raising awareness about organ donation, providing comprehensive patient counselling to alleviate anxiety and implementing efficient organ transport protocols in collaboration with local authorities. The initiative has also facilitated post-transplant care with individually tailored immunosuppressive regimens and continuous follow-up support.
Although there are obstacles such as limited donor hearts and complexities of organ transport, the programme has made significant strides in creating equitable healthcare access. The programme aims to expand the programme to other regions and integration of advanced technologies for monitoring are underway, intending to increase awareness and further improve patient outcomes.
Wind Power Project in Gujarat
Gujarat’s Wind Power Project, launched in August 2016, aims to significantly increase the state’s renewable energy capacity by harnessing the favourable wind conditions, particularly in Kachchh and Saurashtra regions. It is aligned with national and state energy goals, contributing to India’s renewable energy targets while supporting the transition to greener energy sources. In doing so, the initiative leverages advanced wind turbine technology and smart grid integration, ensuring efficient power generation and distribution. It also addresses challenges such as land acquisition, regulatory hurdles and technology adaptation by coordinating with local governments and stakeholders. As a result, the project has substantially increased Gujarat’s renewable energy capacity thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels, decreasing CO2 emissions.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project has also generated significant employment opportunities in manufacturing, installation and maintenance of turbines, fostering economic growth. The project also has potential of integrating additional renewable sources like solar power, along with its continued scalability allows it to play a crucial role in Gujarat’s sustainability goals as well as green future.
