Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023 [UPSC Notes]

Recently NITI Aayog released a compendium on best practices in the social sector with the objective of achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article, we discuss more on this development. This is an important topic for the IAS exam.

Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023:

• The research has been done by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and includes 75 case studies.
• The case studies commemorate 75 years of Indian Independence and highlight efforts put in by various ministries and state governments in 14 key sectors.
• The case studies help in peer-to-peer learning for all states and adopt best practices according to the context.
• The document also highlights the achievements of India in various sectors and also helps countries to learn from India.
• The seventy-five best practices highlight innovative, sustainable, replicable and impactful models and can enhance life at the grassroots level.
• The cases selected in the compendium range from diverse themes such as education, health and nutrition, e-governance and digitization, agriculture, women’s empowerment, sports and financial inclusion among others.

Rythu Bharosa Kendralu (RBKs):

• The NITI Aayog in its compendium of best practices has included the Rythu Bharosa Kendralu (RBKs) which is an initiative of the Andhra Pradesh state government.
• RBKs aim to ensure the availability of inputs for agriculture and allied sectors for low prices at the village level. The inputs are pre-tested and certified to ensure quality inputs.
• This is a unique initiative and the first of its kind in India and it provides services from seed to sale.
• RBKs was introduced by the AP government to protect farmers from paying exorbitant prices for inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and other inputs. 
• The RBKs initiative of the AP government is relevant since even after technological advancement farmers lack information and knowledge about quality inputs and depend on the advice of fellow farmers and input dealers. 
• Thus due to a lack of knowledge and information farmers during harvest receive poor yields, low remuneration and as a consequence fall into the debt trap of middlemen. Thus RBKs initiative will prevent farmers from falling into vicious cycles.

Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023:- Download PDF Here