GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Gujarat’s SWAGAT Online system and received a briefing from Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on its technology-driven mechanism for public grievance redressal.
Launched in 2003 during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, SWAGAT Online has emerged as a model of technology-enabled governance and grievance resolution.
Patel and Sanghavi explained the system’s three-tier functioning at the village, taluka and district levels. According to the Gujarat government, the mechanism has recorded a grievance resolution rate of more than 90 per cent.
Sarma expressed interest in the system and appreciated its approach to addressing citizens’ grievances through digital platforms.
Assam Finance Minister, Gandhinagar MLA Alpesh Thakor, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Vikrant Pandey, and Officers on Special Duty Dhiraj Parekh and Rakesh Vyas were also present.
Earlier, on August 26, Sarma met Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at his official residence in Gandhinagar and discussed Assam’s energy requirements, power infrastructure and urban development priorities.
Sarma apprised Khattar of Assam’s efforts towards energy self-sufficiency and pro-consumer reforms in the power sector. They also discussed the state’s long-term electricity requirements and efficient utilisation of its power allocation from central generating stations.
The two leaders discussed strengthening Guwahati’s electricity distribution network, including a proposal for underground cabling to improve reliability, safety and urban power infrastructure.
They also discussed the use of natural gas for power generation in Assam, including its availability and pricing for gas-based power plants.
Sarma further discussed Assam’s proposal under the Urban Challenge Fund to develop integrated urban spaces focusing on healthcare, sports and climate-resilient infrastructure.
