SKOCH rankings: AP police ranks no. 1 in use of technology, bags 23 awards

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh police department ranked number one in the country in the use of technology bagging 23 of the 56 awards announced by SKOCH State of Governance. Among the awards the AP police won are seven silver medals and one gold. The AP police department has won the highest number of awards (175) in the country.

The state police have won awards in the categories of women's safety, filing of charge sheets within the stipulated time, full digitization of the administration of the police department, integrated command control centre, reduction in road accidents by traffic enforcement, and a few more categories.

AP director-general of police K.V Rajendranath Reddy congratulated the police teams in every district.

Andhra Pradesh bagged the number one spot for the second year and has been a 'Star' performer for the fourth consecutive year in the SKOCH State of Governance rankings. SKOCH State of Governance Report Card for 2021 is an annual report that studies the project level outcome of the states every year. AP is the only state from southern India to have been given 'Star' ratings in 2021, while West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are the other states.

Meanwhile, Telangana has significantly improved its ranking securing the sixth position from ninth in 2020, thereby getting the 'Performer State' ranking.

Agriculture

The share of agriculture in the total good governance initiatives taken by 'Star' states rose to 5.2 per cent in 2021 from 1.3 per cent in 2020. In 2019, the share of agriculture in total good governance initiatives taken in Star states stood at 4.7 per cent.

Ease of doing business

A number of innovative initiatives were taken in Star states to improve their ranking on ease of doing business. In 2020, only 1% of the total good governance initiatives taken in Star states were related to ease of doing business. In 2021, this rose to 5.6 per cent.

Education

The good governance initiatives related to education in Star states rose to 2.4 per cent in 2021 from 0.3 per cent in 2020. However, it remained lower when compared with the pre-pandemic year 2019, when 3 per cent of the total good governance initiatives in the Star states were related to education.

Health

Interestingly, innovation related to the health sector also declined in Star states. Only 0.4 per cent of the total good governance initiatives taken in these states during 2021 were related to health. In 2020, it stood at 2.7 per cent. Health was among the major focus areas among Star states in 2019 when it accounted for 13.6 per cent of the total good governance initiatives.

Sanitation

There was an increased focus on good governance initiatives related to sanitation during the pandemic. Good governance initiatives related to sanitation in Star states fell to 3.2 per cent in 2021 from 4.4 per cent in 2020. However, it remained substantially higher than 2019, when only 2.1 per cent of the total good governance initiatives were related to sanitation.