Digitisation and Social Sector Integration To be Prioritised Under PMGS: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi (02/03/2023): Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, on Thursday, said that almost all social sector ministries have proactively come together for data integration with the PM GatiShakti initiative thereby aiding synchronised implementation of social infrastructure projects across the country. The ministries include health, ministry of women and child development, rural development and panchayati raj and ministry of housing, among others, have aligned for the mega integration process.

“Since its launch in October 2021, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has been a transformative approach towards integrated planning and synchronised infrastructure project implementation. And, now with Integration of all social sector ministries, the initiative is continually gaining heft. Effective data integration and digitization of records across all areas falling under ‘social sector’ ranging from schools to forests will play a crucial role in the upcoming phases of Gati Shakti,” the minister said at the event “National Conference on PM Gati Shakti & National Logistics Policy’, organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Gati Shakti – National Master Plan (NMP) – aimed at developing an integrated infrastructure to reduce logistic costs. The plan is to create a technology-based tool for effective and integrated infrastructure development in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Sumita Dawra, special secretary, Logistics said, “An innovative use of the NMP platform in planning, implementation, and monitoring programs/schemes for greater accessibility and last-mile connectivity to healthcare centers, hospitals, schools, and Anganwadi will enhance public welfare. The social sector ministries are engaging with states and districts to facilitate its wider adoption at a different level.”

All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects, entailing an investment of over ₹500 crore, are routed through the Network Planning Group (NPG), constituted under the PM Gati Shakti initiative.

“India is all set to be a self-reliant yet globally engaged economy. To achieve this goal, one of the prominent aspects that will act as a catalyst is robust infrastructural growth as per global standards. This goal seems achievable, thanks to the ‘PM GatiShakti Master Plan’. GatiShakti Master Plan brings holistic planning which is required for seamless connectivity all over India for a well planned growth of our nation,” said Mehul Mohalka, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

“The costs of logistics in India at about 13-14% of GDP as against about 7-8% in developed nations. High logistics cost has been one of the major bottlenecks for Indian industry. But I am confident that with the implementation of the National Logistics Policy, we’ll build a technology-enabled, integrated, cost-effective and dependable logistics ecosystem in the country. Gatishakti is definitely a booster for the competitiveness of India’s exports and manufacturing,” said Abhyuday Jindal, Vice President, ICC.

Ministries namely Higher Education, Women and Child Development, Tribal Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Health and Family Welfare, Sports… Rural Development, Culture and department of Posts are in advanced stages of data integration in the NMP Platform.

The NMP Platform is now also being used by all Central Ministries and State Governments for smoother planning process and sound decision making. Over 250 infrastructure projects have been examined in the last one year by using the NMP and the PM GatiShakti Institutional Structure. These projects include many connectivity linkages of rail, port, road, and last mile infrastructure projects for sectors such as agriculture, food, steel, and coal.