Rajkisan Saathi – Ease of Doing Farming (EoDF)
RAJASTHAN
Beneficiary Oriented Solution - State
Other
Published By: SeMT
Rajkisan Saathi Project is a State of art digital platform to realize Ease of Doing Farming (EoDF) by delivering end-to-end services of various Departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agriculture marketing, Raj. State seed corporation etc.for farmers and the agri-business community which caters the various needs including subsidies, licenses, and information. Within the project various online services related to G2C, G2B & G2G have been developed. Rajkisan Saathi Project is based on pillars of e-Governance Roadmap of Rajasthan & Modern Governance like Transparency, Citizen centric, Social Inclusion and Ease of Service Delivery.
Project Details
Brief Background
The Rajkisan Saathi project, launched in 2020, is a comprehensive digital platform developed by the Government of Rajasthan to streamline agricultural services for farmers. The portal consolidates various government schemes and services under one platform, offering farmers easy access to subsidies, financial assistance, and government programs related to agriculture, horticulture, agriculture marketing, and more.
Before its implementation, processes related to Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), licensing, and subsidy disbursements were manual and inefficient, often leading to delays and lack of transparency. Farmers also faced challenges such as the absence of a unique beneficiary identity and limited access to real-time information about the status of their applications.
With Rajkisan Saathi, the system became fully automated, integrating Jan-Aadhaar for seamless identity verification, and leveraging mobile applications and online systems for tasks like physical verification and quality control. The platform also includes a marketplace for buyers and sellers of agricultural products, improving access to necessary resources for farmers.
The project has significantly reduced turnaround times for processing subsidies, enhanced transparency in transactions, and introduced real-time monitoring and evaluation of services. It has also enabled 73 lakh farmers to benefit from Rs. 2900 crore in subsidies, marking a transformative shift in Rajasthan's agricultural governance.
The portal’s successful integration of various services and innovative use of IT solutions has positioned it as a replicable model for other states in India.
Objective
The primary objective of the Rajkisan Saathi project is to create an integrated digital platform that streamlines the delivery of agricultural services and benefits to farmers in Rajasthan. Specifically, it aims to:
1. Simplify Access to Government Schemes: Provide farmers with a unified platform to apply for and access various subsidies, grants, and services offered by the government, reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
2. Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Ensure transparency in transactions, such as Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to farmers, through digital processes, thus eliminating manual errors and fraudulent practices.
3. Leverage Technology for Efficiency: Utilize digital tools, including mobile apps and geo-tagging, to automate key functions like physical verification, quality control, and subsidy disbursement, making processes faster and more reliable.
4. Provide Real-Time Data and Support: Offer real-time updates on applications, subsidy status, and other services, empowering farmers with accurate information.
5. Improve Agricultural Productivity: By facilitating access to resources, weather alerts, advisory services, and an online marketplace for agricultural products, the platform helps enhance productivity and income for farmers.
Benefits
The Rajkisan Saathi project offers numerous benefits to farmers, government departments, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Some key benefits include:
1. Streamlined Access to Government Schemes: Farmers can easily apply for various subsidies and services through a single online platform, reducing bureaucratic delays and paperwork.
2. Transparency and Accountability: By digitizing processes like Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and field verifications, the platform minimizes the risk of fraud and ensures that benefits reach the intended recipients directly.
3. Improved Service Delivery: Farmers receive timely updates on their applications, subsidy disbursement status, and other services, improving the overall efficiency and user experience.
4. Technology-Enabled Verification: Geo-tagging and time-stamped physical verifications ensure that the subsidy distribution and field verifications are accurate and can be tracked transparently.
5. Mobile Accessibility: Multiple mobile applications allow farmers to access services on the go, whether it's tracking subsidy applications, receiving weather alerts, or finding information on agricultural practices.
6. Real-Time Data and Monitoring: Government officials can monitor the progress of schemes, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions through real-time dashboards and reports.
7. Farmer Empowerment: The platform enhances farmers' digital literacy and self-reliance, enabling them to access crucial information, advisory services, and financial assistance directly.
8. Cost and Time Efficiency: Automation of processes reduces the time and cost associated with manual paperwork, benefiting both farmers and the government.
9. Reduction of Duplications and Errors: The integration of Jan-Aadhaar (a unique ID system) ensures that only eligible farmers receive benefits, reducing duplication and errors in the system.
Implementation Methodology
1. Needs Assessment and Planning
· Stakeholder Consultation: Engaging with relevant government departments, farmer groups, and agricultural businesses to understand their requirements.
· Gap Analysis: Identifying the shortcomings in existing systems, such as the lack of a centralized platform, manual DBT processes, and absence of real-time monitoring.
2. Phased Development Approach
· Pilot Implementation: A pilot phase was introduced to test core functionalities, such as DBT processing, application workflows, and integration with existing databases like Jan-Aadhaar and e-Dharti land records.
· Agile Methodology: Using an agile approach for iterative development and feedback incorporation. The development team worked in sprints, allowing for continuous refinement of modules based on user feedback and policy changes.
3. Technical Infrastructure Development
· End-to-End Digital Enablement: Full digitization of government schemes, with features like unique farmer IDs, online DBT applications, geo-tagging for physical verification, and automated subsidy disbursement.
· Mobile Applications: Development of multiple mobile apps for real-time field verification, quality control sampling, and a buyer-seller platform, making the system accessible even in rural areas.
· Security Measures: Implementation of Aadhaar-based OTP mechanisms for authentication, ensuring data security and minimizing fraud.
4. Integration with External Systems
· Database Integration: Integration with existing state systems like Jan-Aadhaar for farmer identification, e-Dharti for land records, and bank databases for financial transactions.
· Cross-Departmental Coordination: Close collaboration between departments such as Agriculture, Horticulture, and the Rajasthan State Seed Corporation for smooth data flow and decision-making.
5. Training and Capacity Building
· Farmer Training Programs: Workshops and video tutorials were developed to familiarize farmers with using the platform for accessing services and applying for subsidies.
· Capacity Building for Officials: Training government officials and field workers to use digital tools, mobile apps, and monitoring dashboards, ensuring efficient program management.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation
· Performance Dashboards: Creation of real-time dashboards to monitor the progress of the schemes, allowing for transparent and data-driven decision-making.
· Feedback Mechanism: Continuous collection of feedback from field operations and user experiences to improve the system in successive phases of development.
7. Scalability and Continuous Improvement
· Phase-wise Expansion: Following the pilot phase, the platform was rolled out across the state in phases to manage user load and system performance.
Adaptation to Policy Changes: Regular updates were made to comply with evolving government policies and subsidy guidelines.
Implementing Agency Details
Name of implement agency
RajCOMP Info Services Limited (RISL)
Name of Representative of Agency
Mrs. Monika Chaudhary, SA (Joint Director)
Representative Agency Email
monikac.doit@rajasthan.gov.in
Representative Agency Phone / Mobile
9784296702
Availability of application for implementation in Other States
(Details on how this application can be made available to other State)
The Rajkisan Saathi platform has the potential to be replicated and implemented in other states, thanks to its scalable, flexible, and customizable framework. The platform integrates various agricultural services into a unified system, offering a seamless interface for both government agencies and farmers. Its features, such as DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) for subsidies, licensing for agricultural inputs, and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems, make it a highly adaptable solution for other regions.
Key aspects that make Rajkisan Saathi applicable to other states include:
1. Unified Service Delivery: The platform consolidates services like subsidies, licensing, and crop advisories, which can be customized according to state-specific agricultural policies.
2. Scalable Infrastructure: Rajkisan Saathi has been designed to handle a large number of users and transactions, making it ideal for broader adoption in states with significant agricultural sectors.
3. Technological Adaptability: Its integration with technologies such as geo-tagging, barcoding, and digital verification allows for efficient service delivery and regulatory compliance, making it easy for states with similar needs to implement.
4. User-Centric Approach: The portal supports multiple languages and interfaces to suit farmers' digital literacy, enhancing its usability across different regions.
With proper resource allocation and policy alignment, Rajkisan Saathi can be tailored to suit the unique needs of agricultural stakeholders in other states, helping to streamline services and boost agricultural productivity.
