PM Modi's Vision: Common Service Centers Spearhead Digital Inclusion and Last-Mile Delivery

PM Modi Champions Inclusive Governance: Saturation Policy and Last-Mile Delivery Transform India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reiterated the Government of India's unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, emphasizing a transformative shift towards a "saturation policy" to ensure that welfare schemes and essential services reach every eligible citizen without discrimination. This approach, he asserted, is designed to eliminate avenues for corruption, nepotism, and favoritism, thereby achieving the ambitious goal of "reaching the last mile."

Speaking on the paradigm shift in governance, Prime Minister Modi highlighted a profound change: "Now the government is delivering facilities at the doorstep of the poor." He articulated a clear vision: "The day we resolve to ensure that every basic facility reaches every area and every citizen without discrimination, you will see how big a transformation occurs." This philosophy underscores a departure from a demand-driven model, where citizens had to actively seek out government services, to a proactive, supply-driven system.

The Power of Saturation: Ending Discrimination and Corruption

At the core of this new approach lies the "saturation policy," a strategic move to ensure that schemes cover all eligible beneficiaries within a defined timeframe, leaving no one behind. "The very spirit behind the saturation policy is this: when our goal is to reach everyone, to reach every beneficiary, then there will be no scope left for discrimination, corruption, or nepotism," the Prime Minister affirmed.

This policy fundamentally tackles historical issues of exclusion and inequity. By aiming for 100% coverage, the government inherently creates a transparent framework that minimizes discretionary powers, which are often exploited for corrupt practices or preferential treatment. When schemes are designed for universal access among the eligible, the "who gets what" question is replaced by "how do we ensure everyone gets it," thus rooting out biases.

This approach is evident in several flagship government programs:

• Jal Jeevan Mission: Aiming to provide safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections to all rural households by 2024.

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin & Urban): Working towards "Housing for All" by providing pucca houses to eligible beneficiaries.

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Providing LPG connections to women from BPL households, significantly improving health and living conditions.

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): Offering health insurance cover to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families.

The saturation model for these schemes simplifies the application process, enhances awareness, and ensures that benefits reach the most deserving, regardless of their social standing or connections.

Reaching the Last Mile: Digital Tools and Ground-Level Initiatives

The concept of "reach the last mile" is critical for a diverse and geographically expansive nation like India. It signifies the government's unwavering resolve to extend its services and benefits to the remotest villages and the most marginalized communities. Prime Minister Modi explicitly stated, "Only then will you be able to achieve the goal of 'reach the last mile'." This is being achieved through a multi-pronged strategy combining digital infrastructure, dedicated ground-level workers, and specific welfare initiatives.

1. Empowering the Marginalized: PM SVANidhi and Nomadic Welfare

The Prime Minister cited two exemplary initiatives demonstrating this last-mile commitment:

• PM SVANidhi Yojana for Street Vendors: "Today, for the first time in the country, street vendors have been connected to formal banking through the PM SVANidhi Yojana." Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, this scheme provides collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods. As of May 2024, the scheme has disbursed over 90 lakh loans, empowering millions of street vendors who were traditionally excluded from formal credit channels. It also incentivizes digital transactions, further integrating them into the formal economy. This program addresses the financial vulnerability of a significant informal sector workforce, reducing their dependence on exploitative moneylenders.

• Welfare Board for Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities: "Today, for the first time in the country, a Welfare Board has been constituted for the Banjara, nomadic, and semi-nomadic communities." These communities have historically faced severe marginalization, often lacking identity documents, stable livelihoods, and access to basic amenities. The establishment of a dedicated welfare board is a monumental step towards their recognition and socio-economic upliftment. This board aims to identify, document, and implement targeted welfare schemes for these communities, including access to education, healthcare, housing, and livelihood support, bringing them into the national mainstream after decades of neglect.

2. Common Service Centers (CSCs): The Digital Backbone of Last-Mile Delivery

One of the most significant enablers of last-mile delivery is the expansive network of Common Service Centers. "More than 5 lakh Common Service Centers built in villages have taken government services to the villages," the Prime Minister highlighted. While the Prime Minister mentioned 5 lakh, according to recent reports, the number of active CSCs has surpassed 5.5 lakh, covering almost every Gram Panchayat in the country.

These VLE-operated centers serve as digital gateways, offering a vast array of services:

• E-Governance: Facilitating applications for government certificates, ration cards, voter IDs, and various welfare schemes.

• Financial Inclusion: Providing banking services, insurance, and pension enrollments, often acting as Banking Correspondents (BCs).

• Education and Skill Development: Offering digital literacy courses, online education, and skill training programs.

• Healthcare: Enabling telemedicine consultations (eSanjeevani), basic health check-ups, and health insurance enrollments.

• Utility Services: Assisting with bill payments (electricity, water, gas, phone).

• LPG Services: Facilitating new LPG connections (including Ujjwala beneficiaries), online refill bookings, and direct distribution of cylinders, as highlighted in previous reports.

• Employment Generation: Beyond service delivery, CSCs are significant hubs for local employment, with VLEs acting as entrepreneurs, providing income for themselves and others.

The VLEs, as local entrepreneurs, understand the specific needs and challenges of their communities, enabling them to customize service delivery and build trust, making the CSC network an invaluable asset in rural development.

3. Telemedicine: Healthcare at Your Fingertips

Prime Minister Modi also referred to a specific achievement, stating, "I spoke in detail yesterday in 'Mann Ki Baat' about how the country has completed 10 crore cases of telemedicine." This significant milestone refers primarily to the eSanjeevani platform, a national telemedicine service that connects patients with doctors through video consultation, often facilitated at CSCs or directly through mobile phones.

The completion of 10 crore telemedicine consultations is a testament to the platform's success in:

• Expanding Healthcare Access: Providing medical advice and prescriptions to individuals in remote areas where doctors or specialized medical facilities are scarce.

• Reducing Healthcare Costs: Eliminating travel expenses and long waiting times associated with visiting urban hospitals.

• Decongesting Healthcare Facilities: Reducing the burden on primary healthcare centers and district hospitals.

• Empowering Rural Patients: Enabling them to seek expert medical opinions conveniently and affordably.

This achievement underscores how digital health solutions are fundamentally transforming healthcare delivery, making it more equitable and accessible across India.

Conclusion: A New Era of Inclusive Development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for inclusive governance, driven by the saturation policy and a relentless focus on last-mile delivery, marks a pivotal moment in India's development trajectory. Initiatives like PM SVANidhi, the Welfare Board for nomadic communities, and the sprawling network of Common Service Centers, complemented by digital health solutions like telemedicine, collectively aim to ensure that no citizen is left behind.

This approach is not merely about service delivery; it is about fostering dignity, empowering marginalized communities, and embedding transparency at every level of governance. By systematically dismantling the barriers of discrimination and corruption, and by leveraging technology to connect every corner of the nation, India is steadily progressing towards its ambitious goal of a Viksit Bharat – a developed, equitable, and empowered nation for all. The commitment to reach the last person, at the last mile, is fundamentally reshaping the socio-economic landscape of the country.