Dr. Dinesh Tyagi has infused new vitality in the SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited through his dynamism and farsightedness. Under his dynamic leadership, He has made rapid strides in diverse fields. Presently, he is working as Advisor to SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited and Managing Director of M/s. Bharat Technical Solutions Private Limited (a SREI Group of Companies).
Formerly belongs to Indian Administrative Services, 1981 of Manipur-Tripura Cadre. He worked in the Tripura State in various capacities as Secretary Education and Principal Secretary Finance. He has also worked as Director in the Banking Division, Ministry of Finance. He was Custodian of Special Court at 1992 (Harshad Mehta Scam) in the Finance Ministry. He has been Director on the Board of Syndicate Bank, United Bank of India and Indian Bank. He has also been director on the Board of Financial Institutions such as Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and North-Eastern Development Financial Institute (NITFI) and Industrial Investment Bank of India (IIBI). Dr. Dinesh Tyagi has worked as Chief Executive Officer (CSC Scheme) with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited.
Technological Solutions for Governance Reforms
The world is passing through one of the most remarkable periods of transformation in human history. Globalization is sweeping across nations. Rapid flows of goods, services, capital, technology, ideas, information and people across borders; increased financial integration of the world economy; and proliferation of knowledge as a key driver of economic growth are resulting in new challenges and opportunities for development. Technological developments in computing and telecommunications have reduced transaction costs. With decreasing trade and investment restrictions, shrinking economic distance, more mobile resources and integrated world financial markets, socioeconomic trends are fast transmitting across national boundaries. Innovations in transportation, information and communication technologies are resulting in unprecedented levels of integration between separated parts of the globe. Economic activity is now structured on the “international” rather than the “national” level. It takes place in a highly integrated, electronically networked and knowledge-based environment. Globalization and technology are defying the handicaps of distance and time. Volumes of data and money are quickly transferring between nations. Systems have enabled faster dissemination of ideas, quicker interactions, easier management of interconnections, and integration of business.
Among the various upcoming enterprises offering technological solutions, Bharat Technical Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (BTSPL) has carved out a niche of its own within a short spell of time as a technology company covering all the processes involved from incubation to commercialization of new and innovative technologies in e-Governance, Financial Inclusion and Education space. Dr Dinesh Tyagi, Managing Director of BTSPL, is the moving spirit behind the company.
Dr Arvind Kumar, Editor, SAR Economist, recently interviewed Dr Dinesh Tyagi. Excerpts of the operative part of the interview are as follow:
Q: Please briefly describe the mission of your esteemed company?
Ans: Bharat Technical Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (BTSPL) is a technology company covering all the processes involved from incubation to commercialization of new and innovative technologies in e-Governance, Financial Inclusion and Education space. Our guiding principles and values based on concern for the most deprived, passion for excellence and desire to travel in hitherto uncovered areas /fields drive our decisions, actions and behaviors. They are an essential part of our way of working with our customers, our business partners and our people. We believe in working out innovative solutions to problems being faced by clients and people. Our creative team is talented to understand the issues, appreciate them and design workable solutions to meet the expectations of the various stakeholders .We do not promote technologies but develop solutions to fulfill the aspirations of people mainly those living in Rural India. We focus more on the governance reforms and use technology as a means to address the concerns of all partners/players.
Q: What has been the response of corporate sector to such companies like yours offering technical solutions?
Ans: BTSPL in view of its unique project and services has found its wide acceptance amongst various corporate sectors who are involved in design, development and implementation of e-Governance projects in India. Many of these companies need partners for enabling them to successfully implement various e-Governance projects. In a short span of time BTSPL has been able to associate with some of the reputed companies in India for enabling them to implement projects in various states across the country. We believe in creating partnership and sharing experience and expertise for enabling achievement of defined objectives of the concerned companies. Such partnership are also essential not only for the international companies who desire to enter Indian market but also for established Indian companies who strive to make foothold in e-Governance space. The synergy works very well for startup companies like ours who can provide support required for such companies which would be beneficial to all the partners and create workable implementation models for e governance in India.
Q: Does your company cater to the Private Sector only or serve the Public Sector as well?
Ans: BTSPL mainly strives to deal with Government and other public sector undertakings. The team at BTSPL understands the various facets of Government in its entirety, most of the members having worked in Government related projects. In view of our mission to simplify the life for common person through use of technology, our association with Government being the largest player in this space for providing services to citizen is understandable. We have team members who have spent number of years in implementing projects in Government both at the State as well as at Central level. We do realize dealing with Government has not been an easy task and many time frustrating for young people who come from Private sector. However, at the end of the day the experience and the project delivery signify the relevance of such initiatives to common man to such an extent that it is almost a dream come true for all those involved with the project. Since our company focuses has been mainly e-Governance, we as an organization despite all the intricacies and risk associated, deal and implement projects for the State as well as Central Government. We are few of the uniquely placed private companies which successfully partner with Government organization and are able to address the various challenges in the e-Governance space.
Q: What major areas of services are being served by your company currently?
Ans: Presently, the Company is associated with some of the national e-Governance projects such as Common Service Centers (CSCs) and provides support to one of the main implementing agencies (private sector). The company is supporting the implementation in discussion with the concerned State Governments. The CSC is one of the largest e-Governance projects in the country which would provide both Government to Citizen (G2C) and Business to Citizen (B2C) services at the door step of the citizen especially for those living in rural areas. BTSPL is also engaged in identifying innovative solutions using CSC as a platform for delivery of services. Some of those include setting up of rural BPOs for creating employment opportunities, delivery of agricultural extension services to empower farmers, creating platform for e-literacy and developing application for skill up gradation in various technical areas. We are also partnering in implementation of State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG) scheme in some of the state and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) projects under Mission Mode Project (MMP) of Central Government being implemented at State level. BTSPL is also associated in supporting organization for enrollment of Unique Identification (UID) and also for developing and designing, authentication devices under UID Project. BTSPL has also used innovative technology of digital pen for schools and intelligent battery operated scanners for digitization work in some of the state. BTSPL is designing a solution which can provide support for NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) for capture of muster roll and measurement book from the field functionaries and utilizing the same for assessing the output and linking it to the payment to the laborers. We are also working on solutions for school attendance system in remote locations, solution for ration shops monitoring, solution for Aanganwadi and similar other initiatives which can not only enhance efficiency in delivery of services but also improve quality of governance in these critical areas. BTSPL is also associated in enforcing the implementation of technology for improving the delivery of “new born” in hospitals mainly from rural India. We have partnered with some of the solution provider and worked out strategies to excite the various State Government for acceptance, adoption and implementation of such innovative solutions.
Q: Did your company ever face any difficulty in convincing the prospective clients about the utility of harnessing latest technological solutions to existing problems?
Ans: Utilization of new technology especially for Government does throw many challenges. Over the years, the acceptance of use of technology in the Government has improved significantly. Though there are operational bottlenecks, it is not the resources which are a constraint but the procedure which inhibits expeditious decisions in utilizing such technology for improving the quality of life of people. There is a lack of advocacy and awareness regarding the benefit of uses of such technology at various levels specially those at the implementing level. Any new technology for e-Governance projects without sufficient advocacy and ownership at every level will not be able to sustain and provide the desired benefit to the citizen without being owned by all the stakeholders. BTSPL has learnt this and imbibed in a way that every technology or new initiative in Government is supported by advocacy and capacity building. We do specialize in those areas and are equipped with the desired skill and motivation to address all such challenges in right earnest while committing to take up such projects in partnership or otherwise across various Government sectors.
Q: What future do you envisage for e-governance in India and do you recommend application of e-governance in all government departments, both Central and states, and why?
Ans: e-Governance in India has so far been focusing on creating IT infrastructure. The Central Government support program under National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of State Data Centre (SDC) and State wide Area Network (SWAN) and CSC has been able to achieve the framework for infrastructure support required across the country. Though there are issues in implementation of these projects, however, largely they have been able to meet the expectations to a great extent and able to create the desired impetus for a new beginning.
As regards applications, though there are MMPs identified and are being implemented, the applications which are necessary or desirable for common man have been largely implemented in piece-meal or on adhoc basis. Some State or District Magistrate or Department Officer has been able to provide application regarding delivery of services to citizen, however, uniform availability of such services across the country is still a long way to go. For example, birth and death certificates, income certificate, the resident certificate, school certificate, the Land Records, Registration in employment exchange are some of the services for which application for delivery across the country are still to be designed, developed and implemented.(They do exist in piece meal ) One of the great success story of e-Governance is with Railway Reservation, may be there is a need to learn from this and create a platform for anywhere, anytime service delivery to citizens. e-Governance besides focusing on infrastructure also need to now concentrate on building universal application, keeping in view that the need and demand of the citizen across the country from Government largely remains the same.NIC was to fulfill this gap but has not been able to meet the expectation in view various unknown reasons .
Q: Where would you like to see your company after five years from now?
Ans: BTSPL has an excellent team of committed bright, young persons with passion for ensuring timely delivery within the existing constraints in India in the Government space. The Company positions itself as one of the largest e-Governance Company in the country in another five (5) years. It will not only partner with large organizations but also support local agencies at district level or at block level in order to enable implementation of such projects across the country. BTSPL’s motto is to “Built to serve” and company excels in service delivery whether for Government or corporate which may be our partners in such endeavors. The opportunity in e-Governance is phenomenal and we would create a unique space for ourselves in that space in the next few years.
