Jan Soochna Portal

Jan Soochna Portal is a revolutionary idea to avail correct information of government schemes, services and facilities at grass root level. The Rajasthan state government under the Department of Information and Technology has initiated this portal that connects the citizens to the government administrative resources.The portal contains information from 30 different departments and sums up to 154 schemes in total. From health related schemes to education or rural development, the Jan Soochna Portal offers information for everything one is keen to know.The Primary work of the JSP is transparency and social audit. It complies with the Right to Information Act, 2005, especially Section 4(2) that require a public authority to disburse information in its possession.Since the government makes scheme related data accessible online, it helps those who needs the data to access it without much formalities.One thing that is truly commendable is that the usage of coming across the Jan Soochna Portal is rather easy. For instance, a simple glance at the homepage of the official website and one gets a resource endowment that has been classified properly.It provides everything that one could look for regarding a particular scheme: search for one, check out the criteria that make them eligible, who are the beneficiaries, and even register complaints.It can be seen that the portal is an auditor in a virtual sense. It makes government officers to answer to the public by providing unbiased information.“जवाब देही कानून” which translates as Answerable Law is the motto of portal.

So, how efficient is this web based portal?

The Rajasthan government’s Jan Soochna Portal is well designed and a clean initiative of the government to connect with people by sharing all the information and working transparently. Let’s explore its effectiveness:

• Comprehensive Information: The people can get updated information on various government run schemes through 13 departments enacted through the JSP. That keeps on covering employment guarantee programmes, sanitation, publicdistribution system and so on.However, it goes further than that to provide information on beneficiaries, authorities in charge of implementation and even the progress made. The current information depth is rather important to make adequate decisions.
• Holistic Approach: In this regard, the portal does not only scratch the surface. At all the three levels it enables the citizens to get details related to schemes. It also makes it easy for the people to appreciate how such programs affect their surrounding environment.That means, based upon such information, the JSP performs as a link between the Monopoly of Concentrated Constructions and the population or, to be more exact, as a link that connects citizens with administrative resources.
• Cost-Effective and Efficient: JSP is an efficient and inexpensive measure. This is because it eliminates the need to put up facilities and human resources to offer information to the citizenry. In this regard, it decreases the administrative burden on the government and thus reduces cost implications for the same.Citizens can get information from the internet without much struggle and or having to travel to seek it. Certainly useful and convenient for the users, and cost effective for the government side.
• Enhanced Public Participation: Indeed, due to availability of information, citizens are able to participate in governance. They have the capacity to put to task authorities on their deeds.Education makes the people aware of what is going on around them hence making them powerful citizens.
• Challenges and way forward: This is an important reason why the JSP’s success is bound to the unimpeded continuity of information flow in the course of time. Updating will be important; also the matter of avoiding bottlenecks may be an issue to consider.Moreover, there is also still a need for raising public awareness on how one can use the data in the portal in the right manner. Awareness and understanding of cyberspace and its existence also help in this case.

The Jan Soochna Portal certainly is a concerned success, and something that reflects the ethos of the Right to Information Act. It is one of the improvements in increasing the level of transparency and where other states can truly follow the experience of Rajasthan.

How this Portal Work?

• Visit the Portal:So, in order to accomplish the goal, go to the official website of Jan Soochna Portal.This is like entering a governmental trials and services fair where an infinite number of initiatives are lies in front of you to be discovered.
• Select Your Preferred Language:When you get to the portal, you will be welcomed by options. Select your comfort language either Hindi or English and step into a pool of knowledge.So, you must always remind that language is not an issue in trying to get information!
• Explore Services and Schemes:It means that the homepage is your first step to take in the working process. Just walk through the wide range of services and schemes which have been provided there.If you are interested in health programs, educational activities or rural developments you will discover them neatly categorised.
• Search for Information:Got a specific query? They employ the search option to enable the user to get to exactly what he/she wants.Entering keywords pertaining to the scheme or service of the interest, the portal will do the rest for you.

• Access Details:If you are enthralled by a specific scheme or service then you should carry out a phased investigation. Discover the requirements first.It’s that familiar feeling of having a wise buddy who tells you everything you need to know in your ear.
• Download Documents: Want forms, guidelines, or other documents? The Jan Soochna Portal is a solution to your problem.Seek out download links which are related to the scheme you are researching. Click and save.
• Contact Support: Still have questions? Don’t worry! Reach out to the Toll-Free Help Desk: First, for the customer care toll free number the code is 18001806127.You can also send an e-mail at jansoochna@rajasthan.gov.in. They are around to help you.
• Stay Updated: Portal is more as an open space. But always remember to look out for such schemes from time to time in addition to new schemes and further information.Again as the saying goes, knowledge is power and it accords you exactly that through the Jan Soochna Portal.

Problems related to it and what should be done

The Jan Soochna Portal (JSP) is a good start, however it is not without its problems and this is so because every big idea always comes with its own challenges. Let’s explore these challenges and discuss potential measures to enhance its effectiveness:

Digital Divide:

• Challenge: However, the digital divide remains large and separates the users from the non-users, the latter mostly reside in the rural areas. This depends with the availability and accessibility of the resources to individuals in the internet.
• Measures:
• Broadband Infrastructure: Make broadband more stable and faster investing in superior networks with a focus in the rural areas in order to close the digital divide.
• Digital Literacy Programs: Pass on knowledge to citizens, regarding proper functioning and safe usage of the social networking sites. Training workshops can enable the people to comfortably negotiate the JSP.

Digital Illiteracy:

• Challenge: Connections are obvious and efficient but the good mastery of the internet has not received the improvement it deserves. Most of the users have a hard time in trying to comprehend multiple IT structures.
• Measures:
• User-Friendly Interface: Strengthen the human interface of the JSP on an on-going basis. One needs to make sure that such consideration is made simple for all the users.
• Awareness Campaigns: It is therefore important to create awareness of the specific features of the portal as well as how to extract required information.

Maintenance and Sustainability:

• Challenge: There is therefore need to always have updated JSP to enable continuous flow of the information. Maintenance can be resource-intensive.
• Measures:
• Regular Updates: Encourage dedicated teams to ensure that the portal is well maintained and updated. Regularly verify data accuracy.
• Automated Alerts: Provide for automatic notifications when the information displayed is old or the links are dysfunctional. Timely corrections are essential.

Integration with Other Portals:

• Challenge: Consumers require information from various sources that means citizens require information from various sources. It may add more functionality to the JSP if this is integrated in other government portals.
• Measures:
• Unified Access: Consider cooperation with other departments of the state and central government to ensure easy navigation for the users.
• Single Sign-On: Give the users an ability to go to other related portals using a single sign on method.

Public Awareness and Participation:

• Challenge: it seems that many citizens do not have any idea of the existence or even the potential of the JSP, at least at the stage that was observed.
• Measures:
• Mass Campaigns: Advertise through the medium of radio, television, and any community activities.
• School Outreach: Add the JSP in schools so that people are able to make the right decisions throughout their lives having a proper outlook.

Feedback Mechanism:

• Challenge: There is nothing as important as feedback from users on how to improve a certain product but this aspect is rarely given much attention.
• Measures:
• Responsive Support: Respond to the user inquiries promptly and clearly.