Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to boost innovation within its ranks, the Odisha government has officially rolled out the Staff Suggestion Scheme. This ambitious online platform empowers state government employees to directly contribute ideas aimed at enhancing public services, streamlining administration, and shaping more effective policies. 
Odisha Government Uses Digital Tool to Encourage Employee Ideas for Better Governance


Spearheaded by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department (GA&PGD), the initiative marks a strong push towards collaborative and participatory governance. It seeks to unlock the collective wisdom and frontline experience of Odisha's workforce to drive meaningful improvements across all departments.

Who Can Participate?

All regular employees of the Odisha government possessing a valid HRMS (Human Resource Management System) ID are eligible to join this initiative. This broad inclusion ensures diverse perspectives from various levels and functions of the administration.

How the Platform Works

Employees access the dedicated portal using their HRMS credentials. Once logged in, they can:
  • Submit Suggestions: Propose innovative ideas within specified themes or focus areas relevant to governance challenges.
  • Engage & Collaborate: View suggestions posted by colleagues across departments.
  • Vote & Discuss: Actively participate by liking, disliking, and commenting on suggestions, fostering a collaborative environment.
  • Support Ideas: Cast votes to elevate promising concepts.

Identifying Promising Ideas - The Evaluation Pathway

The scheme employs a unique two-tiered evaluation process combining crowd-sourcing and expert review:
  • Emerging Suggestions: Suggestions that garner significant peer support, specifically a minimum of 1,000 'likes' on the platform, automatically qualify as "Emerging Suggestions." This threshold ensures only ideas with substantial employee backing move forward.
  • Departmental Evaluation Committees (DECs): Each administrative department will constitute its own DEC within the next 15 days. These crucial committees will comprise 5 to 7 senior officers, including a nodal officer holding a rank not below Joint Secretary.
  • Committee Responsibilities: The DECs will periodically review the "Emerging Suggestions." Their task is to rigorously assess each idea's feasibility, potential for scalability, and overall impact on governance or service delivery. Top-rated suggestions will then be recommended for actual implementation as new policies or process improvements.

Recognizing Contribution and Ensuring Action

The Odisha government emphasizes that valuable input will not go unnoticed:
  • Rewards: Employees whose suggestions are selected as the best and implemented will receive appropriate recognition and rewards.
  • Comment Appreciation: Contributors who provide the most insightful or constructive comments on suggestions may also receive tokens of appreciation.
  • Oversight: The GA&PGD acts as the central nodal department, responsible for the overall functioning, monitoring, and success of the Staff Suggestion Scheme portal.
  • Departmental Duty: All departments are mandated to promptly nominate their nodal officer, form their DECs within the 15-day deadline, and actively encourage widespread awareness and participation among their staff.
  • Strong Technical Backing:To ensure smooth operation and user support, the Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) will provide comprehensive assistance. 
  • This includes: Developing easy-to-understand training modules and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Operating a dedicated helpdesk for users and nodal officers facing challenges.
Addressing technical queries submitted through the portal's help section or via designated email support.

A Step Towards Smarter Governance

The launch of the Staff Suggestion Scheme represents a concrete step by the Odisha government to modernize its functioning. By directly involving its employees – those closest to the challenges and opportunities in public service delivery – the state aims to foster a culture of continuous innovation, efficiency, and responsiveness. This digital forum for idea exchange and collaborative problem-solving is poised to become a vital tool in shaping a more effective and citizen-centric administration for Odisha.