IAS Kriti Chachra aims to make governance and education accessible in Assam’s Karbi Anglong

From digital public services to localised learning labs, Karbianglong District Commissioner Kriti Chachra, a 2021-batch IAS officer is working on making governance more accessible and education engaging in the district.

A citizen-centric system is in progress to make meeting the Deputy Commissioner more convenient. In Karbi Anglong, a predominantly tribal district with challenging terrain and long travel distances, reaching the district headquarters can be difficult for many residents. “I don’t want someone travelling for four hours to the DC office and then finding that I am not available or in field visit” Chachra said. The app will allow citizens to book slots to meet the Deputy Commissioner, receive a registration ID and get appointment confirmations. It will also include a grievance redressal feature through which people can submit complaints on various issues from home and track their progress online.

Additionally the administration is also working on a road safety app named Tovar Ajipo, meaning “Road Mitra” in Karbi. It will allow citizens to report road problems, such as damaged roads and missing signboards by uploading photographs with GPS-enabled camera features. The app will also map accident-prone spots, nearby hospitals and police stations. The initiative comes amid concerns over road accidents in the district and ongoing construction.

Alongside these digital initiatives, One of the key initiative plans is to set up localised learning labs inspired by the NIPUN Bharat mission and Delhi’s NIPUN Shala model. These labs will include activities related to astronomy and artificial intelligence (AI) to make education more interactive and enjoyable for children. “We are exploring CSR and DMFT funds for the initiative. We will start with Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and then extend it to Anganwadis so that everyone is covered” she shared. The district library is also being improved by adding books and upgrading its facilities.

With a series of initiatives, her approach reflects an effort to use technology and locally relevant solutions to bridge gaps in public services.