SWAGAT: An online public grievance redressal system that Modi launched, 20 years ago

New Delhi: April 27, 2023 marks the completion of 20 years of SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application Of Technology) scheme. The SWAGAT portal, launched by the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, was the first of its kind initiative to solve people’s grievances by making optimal use of technology.

Today, PM Modi will also deliver a virtual address on the 20th anniversary of SWAGAT yojana, in presence of Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and will also interact with some beneficiaries of the scheme.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘reconnects’ with the old applicants of gamechanger initiative, we take a lookback at how the initiative came into existence.

SWAGAT, a brainchild of Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi, known to have a penchant for gadgets & technology, envisaged the importance of internet and set up a face-to-face public grievance redressal mechanism, where he would directly interact with citizens and helped resolve their problems on spot.

The scheme was launched in April 2003, when Narendra Modi was CM of Gujarat.

20 years ago in 2003, @narendramodi launched #SWAGAT, the 1st ever e-governance project to redress citizens’ grievances online.

Every 4th Thursday then on, CM Modi resolved petitions online via video conference with officials from Taluka to State levels. pic.twitter.com/CAhBFxsrhL

— Modi Archive (@modiarchive) April 27, 2023

Under SWAGAT Yojana, Chief Minister would meet citizens from 3 PM onwards every Thursday, who would put their grievances & complaints and its solution was provided either on spot or in timebound manner. As the meetings happened face-to-face via technical support, it instilled faith in people’s minds & hearts.

Owing to success of the scheme, Taluka SWAGAT & District SWAGAT were also introduced in 2008 for addressing concerns of people in remote locations.

Success rate

According to a news outlet, the SWAGAT portal has been highly successful in addressing people’s grievances & resolving them in a timebound manner.

Gujarat ‘s online public grievance redressal system has earned good reputation as it is said to have received more than 5.5 lakh applications till date and more than 99% of it has been resolved, the portal reported.