Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 10/24

CIPS CELEBRATES INCLUSIVE INNOVATIONS IN PUBLIC SYSTEM

Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS), an autonomous Centre of Administrative Staff College of India (ACSI) in association with Government Innovation Lab, Meghalaya celebrates Inclusive Innovations in Public Systems by holding a workshop and Awards Ceremony 2023 on 19th January, 2024 at Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillong, The day long programme was inaugurated virtually by Mr. V Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India as Guest of Honour.

In his address, Mr. Srinivas expressed his happiness that CIPS has come up with a series of new activities, workshop, symposia etc. therein setting up a new work culture across sectors such as Education, Health, Environment, Agriculture, Rural Development, Good Governance, Information Technology and others. He pointed out that these innovations will infuse new energy with new resolutions. Stating that ACSI has a leadership role to play in ensuring that CIPS operates within the broad ambit of public policy in India, Mr. Srinivas said that Awards and workshops of this nature will motivate to take Government of India models forward. Recalling how the workshop on e-governance has brought about a tremendous transformation in the work culture of public sectors in the States and Union Territories, he said that the public sectors has witnessed a massive expansion of about 1150 e-services through strong digital platforms. Therefore, it is pertinent for each one of us to stay focus on innovations by adopting technology into priority sectors and this will be possible through a strong convergence and leadership role that is committed, determined, disciplined and dedicative to the 'Nation's First Citizens First' approach that the Government has been advocating.

Congratulating the 18 Award Winners of the 1st Phase of Innovation in Public Systems Awards-2023, with specific reference to North East and Hills States and Union Territories, Mr. Srinivas hoped that the awards will further partnerships and take forward its mandate of promoting innovations. He expressed hoped that by honoring best innovative practices, a hospitable environment will be created in bringing positive changes in culture as well as structure of governance across states, he added. Dr. Valli Manickam, Director CIPS & Dean of Research and Management Studies, ASCI, Hyderabad and Dr. Nirmalya Bagchi, Chairman, Steering Committee, CIPS & DG i/c ASCI, Hyderabad also spoke on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that the Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS) was setup as per the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commissions (13th FC) “to catalyze innovative changes in both the culture and structure of governance in various states”. CIPS contributes significantly to a country’s economic growth and overall well-being by improving the quality and reach of public services and reducing the cost of delivery. The mandate of CIPS is to promote innovation in public services and encourage innovations and dedicated to provide a platform for the emergence and cross-fertilization of innovative ideas by identifying, recognizing, promoting, and replicating innovations in public systems.

In the journey of CIPS till date, it has identified around 500 innovations across various sectors throughout the country. CIPS has been able to implement 6 replication activities in the areas of Healthcare and Education. In addition to these replications, 16 sponsored projects and 53 publications have been successfully completed.

Press Release No. 11/24

UNION HOME MINISTER ADDRESSES THE 71ST PLENARY SESSION OF THE NEC

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the 71st Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council in Shillong today. In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that the last 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have been the most significant for the development of the Northeast in the 75 years since independence. He said that in these 10 years under the leadership of Modi ji, not only the distance from Northeast to Delhi and the rest of India has reduced due to the creation of infrastructure, but the difference of hearts has also reduced. He said that the Northeast, which was struggling with various ethnic, linguistic, border and extremist groups related problems, has also got the beginning of a fresh and durable era of peace in these 10 years. Shri Shah said that if these 10 years for the Northeast are compared with the 75 years after the country's independence, then this decade will definitely be considered as the Golden period of the Northeast. He said that we have always considered the Northeast as an important part of India. During the time of Atal ji, by giving it priority, a separate ministry was created for the Northeast and today under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the three mantras of Act East, Act Fast and Act First are being implemented. Along with this, impetus is being given to the Northeast by giving priority to it in all the ministries of the Government of India.

The Union Home Minister said that in the 50 years of its establishment, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has increased the pace of development of the region by providing a policy-related platform to all the states and simplifying the solutions to their problems. He said that in these 50 years, more than 12,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed in this region, 700 MW power plants have been established and many institutes of national excellence have also been established under the guidance of NEC. Shri Shah added that under the leadership of Modi ji, the role and scope of NEC has been increased under the Act East Policy. He said that in the last few years, the Modi government has achieved significant success in solving the problems of law and order, insurgency and borders in this region. Along with this, work has also been done to promote the use of technology in administration by using North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC). He said that the language, culture, food, attire and natural beauty of Northeast will give a great boost to this region in global tourism.

Shri Amit Shah said that when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had come to the Plenary session of NEC in 2016, it was for the first time after 40 years that the Prime Minister of the country was presiding over this meeting. He added that after this, Modi ji visited Northeast more than 50 times in the last 10 years and made the priorities of the government very clear to the entire country. He said that Union Ministers have also visited Northeast more than 500 times. The Central Government, with the Whole of Government Approach, has not only worked to enrich the pride, languages, culture, literature, music, costumes and food of the Northeast but has also worked towards giving entire India an opportunity to get acquainted with these features.

The Union Home Minister said that the Modi government has also taken many steps in the last 10 years to establish peace and stability in the Northeast. He said that the NEC Year Book - 2024 has also been released today. Mr Shah urged all the states to control the Gross Fiscal Deficit and said that Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura have made commendable efforts in this direction. He said that we will have to give thrust to create a flood-free and drug-free Northeast and strengthen water management by using NESAC. By creating big lakes to absorb rain water, we can attract tourism and can also strengthen the drinking water and irrigation system. Shri Amit Shah said that to take our criminal justice system into the 21st century, 3 new laws have been brought under the leadership of Modi ji and after their notification, within 3 years our criminal justice system will become the most modern and scientific criminal justice system in the whole world.

The Union Home Minister said that from 2004 to 2014, a total of 11121 violent incidents took place in the Northeast. It declined by 73 percent to 3114 from 2014 to 2023. Deaths among security forces dropped by 71 percent from 458 to 132, while civilian deaths declined by 86 percent. He said that the incidents of insurgency have come down because in the last 5 years more than 8900 cadres of militant groups have surrendered and have joined the mainstream and this has given a message to the entire country that peace and prosperity are interconnected and without them the states cannot develop. Shri Shah added that to bring peace and stability in the Northeast, the Modi government has signed 9 agreements and through these, many pending issues related to law and order have been successfully resolved. He said that except some parts of Assam and Manipur, 75 percent of the areas covered under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in 2018 have been removed from it.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Modi government has allocated Rs. 4800 crores for the year 2022-23 to 2025-26 for the Northeast and there is an increase of about 162 percent in the budget. He said that the 10 percent Gross Budgetary Support Scheme has greatly benefited the development of the Northeast. An allocation of Rs. 1500 crore has been made in PM-DevINE (Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region) for 2022-23 and Rs. 6600 crores for 2025-26. An Inter-ministerial task force has been formed for agriculture, 8 ropeways have been taken up under the National Ropeway Development Programme, and the budget of the DoNER Ministry has increased by 153 per cent. Under the National Edible Oil Mission, Rs. 234 crores have been allocated in the Northeast alone to give priority to palm oil. Along with this, 32 projects worth Rs. 1713 crore have been approved under the Special Infrastructure Development Plan of Northeast. Among the achievements of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation, schemes worth Rs. 5490 crores have been approved from January 2023 to December 2023. He said that under the SAMBHAV scheme, work is being done to provide basic facilities to 75 Gram Panchayats and councils of 42 districts of 8 states.

The Union Home Minister said that we should increase the use of NESAC and it can be used to make disaster, water management and administration people-oriented and modern. He said that the Modi government has also done infrastructure expansion in the Northeast. In the last 10 years, the Modi government has invested Rs. 81,000 crores in railways, Rs. 48,000 crores in road connectivity and 5196 km long roads have been constructed in the Northeast under the Bharat Mala project. Under the UDAN scheme, 8 new airports have been constructed and 71 new air routes have been started in these 10 years. Shri Shah said that if Northeast becomes self-reliant in organic products, dairy farming, fishing and egg production, then 13 lakh people can be given employment in these 4 sectors alone. He said that development of the region alone is not enough, but along with the region, there should also be development of the individual and for this Industrial production and agriculture are the only options. Shri Shah said that when India is going to become a 5 trillion-dollar economy, the Northeast should also set a target of giving its Lion's share in this effort and when the whole of India becomes completely developed and self-reliant in 2047, then our North-East will also become fully developed and self-reliant.

Press Release No. 12/24

UNION HOME MINISTER, SHRI AMIT SHAH INAUGURATES CYBER SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTRE

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah inaugurated Cyber Security Operations Centre in Assam Rifles Headquarters at Laitkor in Shillong, today.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bharat is taking a quantum leap towards digitalisation. He said that the Modi government is committed to creating a cyber-success society by making the internet secure for every citizen. He stated that prevention of cyber crimes is a priority of the Modi government.

Union Home Minister praised the efforts of the Assam Rifles in modernising its operations. He said that the Cyber Security Operations Centre will strengthen the Cyber Security posture of the Force by carrying out real-time monitoring of the network, mitigation of external threats & prevention of Cyber violations in the Assam Rifles Wide Area Network (ARWAN). The Cyber Security Operations Centre has been equipped with a state-of-the-art Network & data monitoring devices to provide 24 x 7 services. Shri Shah appreciated the concerted efforts of Assam Rifles in ensuring seamless & secure digital services within the force.

The Centre is the first of its kind among all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The increased cyber attacks in present times have made it imperative to safeguard our networks from nefarious intruders, hacking and other cyber incursions. The present infrastructure enables the integration and management of diverse aspects affiliated with operations.